* 


* 


S  I  X  STAR 
RANCH 


ELEANOR  H.  PORTER 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


BY  THE  AUTHOR 

OF 

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THE  PAGE  COMPANY 
53  Beacon  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 


REDDY    WAS    RIGHT    THERE    EVERY    TIME 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


BY 

ELEANOR  H.  PORTER 


AUTHOR  OF 

THE   ROAD  TO  UNDERSTANDING, 
TUST  DAVID,  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY 

FRANK  J.  MURCH 


GROSSET   &    DUNLAP 

PUBLISHERS  NEW    YORK 


Copyright,  1913 
BY  THE  PAGE  COMPANY 

Copyright,  1916 
BY  THE  PAGE  COMPANY 

All  rights  reserved 


Third  Impression,  January,  1916 
Fourth  Impression,  February,  1916 
Fifth  Impression,  March,  1916 
Sixth  Impression,  April,  1916 
Seventh  Impression,  May,  1916 
Eighth  Impression,  August,  1916 
Ninth  Impression,  March,  1920 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 
XXIII. 
XXIV. 

XXV. 
XXVI. 


AUNT  SOPHRONIA  .  .  '  .  r*"9~7r  . 
PLANS  FOR  TEXAS  .  .  .  .  . 
THE  COMING  or  GENEVIEVE  . 

ON  THE  WAY 

THE  BOYS  PREPARE  A  WELCOME    . 
CORDELIA  SEES  A  COWBOY 

THE  RANCH  HOUSE 

THE  MISTRESS  OF  THE  Six  STAR  RANCH 
REDDY  AND  THE  BRONCHO 
CORDELIA  GOES  TO  CHURCH     . 

QUENTINA 

THE  OPENING  OF  A  BARREL     . 
THE  PRAIRIE  —  AND  MOONLIGHT    . 
A  MAN  AND  A  MYSTERY  .... 

THE  ALAMO 

TILLY  CROSSES  BRIDGES  .... 
"  BERTHA'S  ACCIDENT  " 


PAGE 
I 

12 
28 

44 
61 

72 
86 

99 
no 

121 
137 
157 
171 

185 
2OI 

215 

225 


THE  GOLDEN  HOURS  .       .       .  r    .       .235 

HERMIT  JOE 248 

THE  NEW  BOY 260 

GENEVIEVE  LEARNS  SOMETHING  NOT  IN 

BOOKS 278 

A  TEXAS  "  MISSIONARY  "  .       .       .       .  296 

GENEVIEVE  GOES  TO  BOSTON  .              .  307 

A  BROWN  DRESS  FOR  ELSIE     .       .       .  324 

"  WHEN  SUNBRIDGE  WENT  TO  TEXAS  "  .  339 

A  G^JOD-BY  PARTY    .....  349 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    I 

AUNT   SOPHRONIA 

THE  Reverend  Thomas  Wilson's  sister,  Miss 
Sophronia,  'had  come  to  Sunbridge  on  a  Tuesday 
evening  late  in  June  to  make  her  brother's  family 
a  long-promised  visit.  But  it  was  not  until  the  next 
morning  that  she  heard  something  that  sent  her  to 
her  sister-in-law  in  a  burst  of  astonishment  almost 
too  great  for  words. 

"For  pity's  sake,  Mary,  what  is  this  I  hear?" 
she  demanded.  "  Edith  insists  that  her  cousin, 
Cordelia,  is  going  to  Texas  next  week  —  to  Texas ! 
—  Cordelia!" 

''  Yes,  she  is,  Sophronia,"  replied  the  minister's 
wife,  trying  to  make  her  answer  sound  as  cheerful 
and  commonplace  as  she  could,  and  as  if  Texas  were 
in  the  next  room.  '(It  was  something  of  a  trial  to 

1 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


Mrs.  Thomas  Wilson  that  her  husband's  sister 
could  not  seem  to  understand  that  she,  a  minister's 
wife  for  eighteen  years  and  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren, ought  to  know  what  was  proper  and  right  for 
her  orphaned  niece  to  do  —  at  least  fully  as  much 
as  should  a  spinster,  who  had  never  brought  up 
anything  but  four  cats  and  a  parrot!)  "Edith  is 
quite  right.  Cordelia  is  going  to  Texas  next  week." 

"  But,  Mary,  are  you  crazy  ?  To  let  a  child  like 
that  go  all  the  way  from  here  to  Texas  —  one 
would  think  New  Hampshire  and  Texas  were 
twenty  miles  apart !  " 

Mrs.  Wilson  sighed  a  little  wearily. 

"Cordelia  isn't  exactly  a  child,  Sophronia;  you 
must  remember  that.  She  was  sixteen  last  Novem- 
ber; and  she's  very  self-reliant  and  capable  for  her 
age,  too.  Besides,  she  isn't  going  alone,  you  know." 

"  Alone !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Sophronia.  "  Mary, 
surely,  the  rest  that  Edith  said  isn't  true!  Those 
other  girls  aren't  going,  too,  are  they  ?  —  Elsie 
Martin,  and  that  flyaway  Tilly  Mack,  and  all?  " 

"  I  think  they  are,  Sophronia." 

"  Well,  of  all  the  crazy  things  anybody  ever 
heard  of !  "  almost  groaned  the  lady.  "  Mary,  what 
are  you  thinking  of?" 

"  I'm  thinking  of  Cordelia,"  returned  the  minis- 
ter's wife,  with  a  spirit  that  was  as  sudden  as  it  was 
unusual.  "  Sophronia,  for  twelve  years,  ever  since 
she  came  to  me,  Cordelia  has  been  just  a  Big  Sister 


SIX   STAB,   RANCH  3 

in  the  family ;  and  she's  had  to  fetch  and  carry  and 
trot  and  run  her  little  legs  off  for  one  after  another 
of  the  children,  as  well  as  for  her  uncle  and  me. 
You  know  how  good  she  is,  and  how  conscientious. 
You  know  how  anxious  she  always  is  to  do  exactly 
right.  She's  never  had  a  playday,  and  I'm  sure  she 
deserves  one  if  ever  a  girl  did!  Vacations  to  her 
have  never  meant  anything  but  more  care  and  more 
time  for  housework." 

Mrs.  Wilson  paused  for  breath,  then  went  on 
with  renewed  vigor. 

"  When  this  chance  came  up,  Tom  and  I  thought 
at  first,  of  course,  just  as  you  did,  that  it  was  quite 
out  of  the  question ;  but  —  well,  we  decided  to  let 
her  go.  And  I  haven't  been  sorry  a  minute  since. 
She's  Tom's  only  brother's  child,  and  we've  never 
been  able  to  do  much  for  her,  as  you  know.  We 
can  let  her  have  this  chance,  though.  And  she's  so 
happy  —  dear  child !  " 

""But  what  is  it?  How  did  it  happen?  Who's 
going?  Edith's  story  sounded  so  absurd  to  me  I 
could  make  precious  little  out  of  it.  She  insisted 
that  the  '  Happy  X's  '  were  going." 

The  minister's  wife  smiled. 

"It's  the  girls'  'Hexagon  Club/  Sophronia. 
They  call  themselves  the  '  Happy  Hexagons.'  There 
are  six  of  them." 

"  Humph !  "  commented  Miss  Sophronia.  "  Who 
are  they  —  besides  Cordelia  ?  " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


"  Bertha  Brown,  Tilly  Mack,  Alma  Lane,  Elsie 
Martin,  and  Genevieve  Hartley." 

"And  who?"  frowned  Miss  Sophronia  at  the 
last  name. 

"  Genevieve  Hartley.  She  is  the  little  Texas  girl. 
It  is  to  her  ranch  they  are  going." 

"  Her  ranch !  " 

"Well  — her  father's." 

"  But  who  is  she?    What's  she  doing  here?  " 

"  She's  been  going  to  school  this  winter.  She's 
at  the  Kennedys'." 

"  A  Texas  ranch-girl  at  the  Kennedys' !  Why, 
they're  nice  people !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Sophronia, 
opening  wide  her  eyes. 

Mrs.  Wilson  laughed  now  outright. 

"  You'd  better  not  let  Miss  Genevieve  hear  you 
say  '  nice  '  in  that  tone  of  voice  —  and  in  just  that 
connection,  Sophronia,"  she  warned  her.  "  Gene- 
vieve might  think  you  meant  to  insinuate  that  there 
weren't  any  nice  people  in  Texas  —  and  she's  very 
fond  of  Texas !  " 

Miss  Sophronia  smiled  grimly. 

"  Well,  I  don't  mean  that,  of  course.  Still,  a 
ranch  must  be  sort  of  wild  and  —  and  mus-l 
tangy,  seems  to  me ;  and  I  was  thinking  of  the 
Kennedys,  especially  Miss  Jane  Chick.  Imagine 
saying  '  wild '  and  '  Miss  Jane '  in  the  same 
breath!" 

"Yes,  I  know,"  smiled  Mrs.  Wilson;  "and  I 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


guess  Genevieve  has  been  something  of  a  trial  —  in 
a  way ;  though  they  love  her  dearly  —  both  of  them. 
She's  a  very  lovable  girl.  But  she  is  heedless  and 
thoughtless;  and,  of  course,  she  wasn't  at  all  used 
to  our  ways  here  in  the  East.  Her  mother  died 
when  she  was  eight  years  old;  since  then  she  has 
been  brought  up  by  her  father  on  the  ranch.  She 
blew  into  Sunbridge  last  August  like  a  veritable 
breeze  from  her  own  prairies  —  and  the  Kennedy 
home  isn't  used  to  breezes  —  especially  Miss  Jane. 
I  imagine  Genevieve  did  stir  things  up  a  little  there 
all  winter  —  though  she  has  improved  a  great  deal 
since  she  came." 

"  But  why  did  she  come  in  the  first  place?  " 

Mrs.  Wilson  smiled  oddly. 

"  That's  the  best  part  of  it/'  she  said.  "  It  seems 
that  last  April,  when  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  Miss  Chick 
were  on  their  way  home  from  California,  they 
stopped  in  Houston,  Texas,  a  few  days,  and  there 
they  met  John  Hartley  and  his  daughter,  Genevieve. 
It  appears  they  had  known  him  years  ago  when  they 
were  '  the  Chick  girls/  and  he  came  to  Sunbridge 
to  visit  relatives.  I've  heard  it  whispered  that  he 
was  actually  a  bit  in  love  with  one  of  them,  though 
I  never  heard  whether  it  was  Miss  Jane,  or  the  one 
who  is  now  the  Widow  Kennedy.  However  that 
may  be,  he  was  delighted  to  see  them  in  Texas, 
report  says,  and  to  introduce  to  them  his  daughter, 
Genevieve." 


6  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  But  that  doesn't  explain  how  the  girl  came 
here/'  frowned  Miss  Sophronia. 

"  No,  but  I  will,"  smiled  her  sister-in-law. 
"  Fond  and  proud  as  Mr.  Hartley  very  plainly  was 
of  his  daughter,  it  did  not  take  Mrs.  Kennedy  long 
to  see  that  he  was  very  much  disturbed  at  the  sort 
of  life  she  was  living  at  the  ranch.  That  is,  he  felt 
that  the  time  had  come  now  when  she  needed  some- 
thing that  only  school,  young  girl  friends,  and 
gently-bred  women  could  give  her;  yet  he  corld 
not  bear  the  thought  of  sending  her  off  alone  to  an 
ordinary  boarding  school.  Then  is  when  Mrs. 
Kennedy  arose  to  the  occasion;  and  very  quickly 
it  was  settled  that  Genevieve  should  come  here  to 
her  in  Sunbridge  for  school  this  last  winter  — 
which  she  did,  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  has  been  a  veri- 
table mother  to  her  ever  since.  She  calls  her  *  Aunt 
Julia.'  " 

"  Hm-m ;  very  fine,  I'm  sure,"  murmured  Miss 
Sophronia,  a  little  shortly.  "  And  now  she's  asked 
these  girls  home  with  her  —  the  whole  lot  of  them !  " 

"Yes;  and  they're  crazy  over  it  —as  you'd 
know  they  would  be." 

Miss  Sophronia  sniffed  audibly. 

"Humph!  It's  the  parents  that  are  crazy/ I'm 
thinking,"  she  corrected.  "  Imagine  it  —  six  scat- 
ter-brained children,  and  all  the  way  to  Texas! 
Mary!" 

"  Oh,  but  the  father  is  in  the  East  here,  on  busi- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


ness,  and  he  goes  back  with  them,"  conciliated  Mrs. 
Wilson,  hastily.  "  Besides,  Mrs.  Kennedy  is  going, 
too." 

Miss  Sophronia  raised  her  eyebrows. 

"Well,  I  can't  say  I  envy  her  the  thing  she's 
undertaken.  Imagine  my  attempting  to  chaperon 
six  crazy  girls  all  the  way  from  New  Hampshire  to 
Texas  —  and  then  on  a  ranch  for  nobody  knows 
how  long  after  that !  " 

"  I  can't  imagine  —  your  doing  it,  Sophronia," 
rejoined  the  minister's  wife,  demurely.  And  at  the 
meaning  emphasis  and  the  twinkle  in  her  eye,  Miss 
Sophronia  sniffed  again  audibly. 

"When  do  they  go?"  she  asked  in  her  stiffest 
manner. 

"  The  first  day  of  July." 

"  Indeed !  Very  fine,  I'm  sure.  Still  —  I've  been 
thinking  of  the  expense.  Of  course,  for  a  min- 
ister—" 

Mrs.  Wilson  bit  her  lip.  After  a  moment  she 
filled  the  pause  that  her  sister-in-law  had  left. 

"  I  understand,  of  course,  what  you  mean,  So- 
phronia," she  acknowledged.  "  And  ministers' 
families  don't  have  much  money  for  Texas  trips, 
I'll  own.  As  it  happens,  however,  the  trip  will  cost 
the  young  people  nothing.  Mr.  Hartley  very  kindly 
bears  all  the  expenses." 

"He  does?" 

"  Yes.    He  declares  he  shall  be  in  the  girls'  debt 


8  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

even  then.  You  see,  last  winter  Genevieve  sprained 
her  ankle,  and  was  shut  up  for  weeks  in  the  house. 
It  was  a  very  bad  sprain,  and  naturally  it  came 
pretty  hard  on  such  an  active,  outdoor  girl  as  she 
is.  Mrs.  Kennedy  says  she  thinks  Genevieve  and 
all  the  rest  of  them  would  have  gone  wild  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  the  girls.  One  or  more  of  them 
was  there  every  day.  Then  is  when  they  formed 
their  Hexagon  Club.  It  was  worth  everything  to 
Genevieve,  as  you  can  imagine;  and  Mr.  Hartley 
declares  that  nothing  he  can  ever  do  will  half  repay 
them.  Besides,  he  wants  Genevieve  to  be  with  nice 
girls  all  she  can  —  she's  had  so  little  of  girls'  society. 
So  he's  asked  them  to  go  as  his  guests." 

"  Dear  me !    Well,  he  must  have  some  money !  " 

"  He  has.  Mrs.  Kennedy  says  he  is  a  man  of  in- 
dependent means,  and  he  has  no  one  but  Genevieve 
to  spend  his  money  on.  So,  as  for  this  trip  —  in  his 
whole-hearted,  generous  Western  fashion,  he  pays 
all  the  bills  himself." 

"  Hm-m ;  very  kind,  I'm  sure,"  admitted  Miss 
Sophronia,  grudgingly.  "  Well,  I'm  glad,  at  least, 
that  it  doesn't  cost  you  anything." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence,  then  Mrs.  Wilson 
said,  apologetically: 

"  I'm  sorry,  Sophronia,  but  I'm  afraid  you'll  have 
to  stand  it  till  the  children  go  —  and  there'll  be 
something  to  stand,  too ;  for  it's  '  Texas,  Texas, 
Texas,'  from  morning  till  night,  everywhere.  Gene- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  9 

vieve  herself  is  in  New  Jersey  visiting  friends,  but 
that  doesn't  seem  to  make  any  difference.  The 
whole  town  is  wildly  excited  over  the  trip.  I  found 
even  little  Mrs.  Miller,  the  dressmaker,  yesterday 
poring  over  an  old  atlas  spread  out  on  her  cutting- 
table. 

"  4 1  was  just  a-lookin'  up  where  Texas  was/  she 
explained  when  she  saw  me.  l  My !  only  think  of 
havin'  folks  go  all  that  distance  —  folks  I  know,  I 
mean.  I'm  sure  I'd  never  dare  to  go  —  or  let  my 
girl/  " 

"  Very  sensible  woman,  I'm  sure,"  remarked  Miss 
Sophronia. 

Mrs.  Wilson  smiled;  but  she  went  on  imperturb- 
ably. 

"  Even  the  little  tots  haven't  escaped  infection. 
Imagine  my  sensations  Sunday  when  Bettie  Barker, 
the  primmest  Miss  Propriety  in  my  infant  class, 
asked :  '  Please,  Mis'  Wilson,  what  is  a  broncho,  and 
how  do  you  bust  'em?  '  " 

This,  indeed,  was  too  much  for  even  Miss  So- 
phronia's  gravity.  Her  lips  twitched  and  relaxed 
in  a  broad  smile. 

(l  Well,  upon  my  word !  "  she  ejaculated,  as  she 
rose  to  her  feet  to  go  up-stairs  to  her  room.  "  Upon 
my  word !  " 

An  hour  later,  in  that  same  room,  Mrs.  Wilson, 
going  in  to  place  some  fresh  towels  upon  the  rack, 
found  a  huge  book  spread  open  on  Miss  Sophroni-a's 


10  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

bed.  The  book  was  number  seven  in  the  Reverend 
Thomas  Wilson's  most  comprehensive  encyclopedia ; 
and  it  was  open  at  the  word  "  Texas." 

Mrs.  Wilson  smiled  and  went  out,  closing  the 
door  softly  behind  her. 

It  was,  indeed,  as  Mrs.  Wilson  had  said,  "  Texas, 
Texas,  Texas,"  everywhere  throughout  the  town. 
Old  atlases  were  brought  down  from  attics,  and  old 
geographies  were  dug  out  of  trunks.  Even  the  dic- 
tionaries showed  smudges  in  the  T's  where  not  over- 
clean  ringers  had  turned  hurried  pages  for  possible 
information.  The  library  was  besieged  at  all  hours, 
particularly  by  the  Happy  Hexagons,  for  they,  of 
course,  were  the  storm-center  of  the  whole  thing. 

Ordinarily  the  club  met  but  once  a  week;  now 
they  met  daily  —  even  in  the  absence  of  their  be- 
loved president,  Genevieve.  Heretofore  they  had 
met  usually  in  the  parsonage ;  now  they  met  in  the 
grove  back  of  the  schoolhouse. 

"  It  seems  more  appropriate,  somehow,"  Elsie 
had  declared ;  "  more  sort  of  airy  and  —  Texasy !  " 

"  Yes ;  and  we  want  to  get  used  to  space  —  wide, 
wide  space!  Genevieve  says  it's  all  space,"  Bertha 
Brown  had  answered,  with  a  far-reaching  fling  of 
her  arms. 

"  Ouch !  Bertha !  Just  be  sure  you've  got  the 
space,  then,  before  you  get  used  to  it,"  retorted  Tilly, 
aggrievedly,  straightening  her  hat  which  had  been 
knocked  awry  by  one  of  the  wide-flung  arms. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  II 

The  Happy  Hexagons  met,  of  course,  to  study 
Texas,  and  to  talk  Texas;  though,  as  Bertha 
Brown's  brother,  Charlie,  somewhat  impertinently 
declared,  they  did  not  need  to  meet  to  talk  Texas  — 
they  did  that  without  any  meeting!  All  of  which 
merely  meant,  of  course,  retaliated  the  girls.,  that 
Charlie  was  jealous  because  he  also  could  not  go  to> 
Texas. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    II 

PLANS    FOR    TEXAS 

IT  was  a  pretty  little  grove  in  which  the  Happy 
Hexagons  met  to  study  and  to  talk  Texas.  Nor 
were  they  the  only  ones  that  met  there.  Though 
Harold  Day,  Alma  Lane's  cousin,  was  not  to  be  oi 
the  Texas  party,  the  girls  invited  him  to  meet  with 
them,  as  he  was  Texas-born,  and  was  one  of  Gene- 
vieve's  first  friends  in  Sunbridge.  On  the  outskirts 
of  the  magic  circle,  sundry  smaller  brothers  and 
sisters  and  cousins  of  the  members  hung  adoringly. 
Even  grown  men  and  women  came  sometimes,  and 
stood  apart,  looking  on  with  what  the  Happy  Hexa- 
gons chose  to  think  were  admiring,  awestruck  eyes 
—  which  was  not  a  little  flattering,  though  quite 
natural  and  proper,  decided  the  club.  For,  of  course, 
not  every  one  could  go  to  Texas,  to  be  sure ! 

At  the  beginning,  at  least,  of  each  meeting,  affairs 
were  conducted  with  the  seriousness  due  to  so  im- 
portant a  subject.  In  impressive  silence  the  club 
seated  itself  in  a  circle ;  and  solemnly  Cordelia  Wil- 
son, the  treasurer,  opened  the  meeting,  being  (ac- 
cording to  Tilly)  a  "  perfect  image  of  her  uncle  in 
the  pulpit." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  13 

"  Fellow  members,  once  more  we  find  ourselves 
gathered  together  for  the  purpose  of  the  study  of 
Texas,"  she  would  begin  invariably.  And  then  per- 
haps :  "  We  will  listen  to  Miss  Bertha  Brown,  please. 
Miss  Brown,  what  new  thing  —  I  mean,  what  new 
features  have  you  discovered  about  Texas?  " 

If  Miss  Brown  had  something  to  say  —  and  of 
course  she  did  have  something  (she  would  have  been 
disgraced,  otherwise)  —  she  said  it.  Then  each  in 
turn  was  asked,  after  which  the  discussion  was  open 
to  all. 

They  were  lively  meetings.  No  wonder  small 
brothers  and  sisters  and  cousins  hung  entranced  on 
every  word.  No  wonder,  too,  that  at  last,  one  day, 
quite  carried  away  with  the  enthusiasm  of  the  mo- 
ment, they  made  so  bold  as  to  have  something  to  say 
on  their  own  account.  It  happened  like  this : 

"  Texas  is  the  largest  state  in  the  Union,"  an- 
nounced Bertha  Brown,  who  had  been  called  on  first. 
"  It  has  an  area  about  one  twelfth  as  large  as  that 
of  the  whole  United  States.  If  all  the  population  of 
the  country  were  placed  there,  the  state  would  not  be 
as  thickly  settled  as  the  eastern  shore  of  Massachu- 
setts is.  Six  different  flags  have  waved  over  it  since 
its  discovery  two  hundred  years  ago :  France,  Spain, 
Mexico,  Republic  of  Texas,  Confederate  States  of, 
America,  and  the  Star  Spangled  Banner." 

"  Pooh !  I  said  most  of  that  two  days  ago,"  mut- 
tered Tilly,  not  under  breath. 


14  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"Well,  I  can't  help  it,'7  pouted  Bertha;  "there 
isn't  very  much  new  left  to  say,  Tilly  Mack,  and  you 
know  it.  Besides,  I  didn't  have  a  minute's  time  this 
morning  to  look  up  a  single  thing." 

"Order  —  order  in  the  court,"  rapped  Cordelia, 
sharply. 

"  Oh,  but  it  doesn't  matter  a  bit  if  we  do  say  the 
same  things,"  protested  Alma  Lane,  quickly.  (Alma 
was  always  trying  to  make  peace  between  com- 
batants.) "I'm  sure  we  shall  remember  it  all  the 
better  if  we  do  repeat  it." 

"  Of  course  we  shall,"  agreed  Cordelia,  promptly. 
"Now,  Alma  —  I  mean  Miss  Lane  — "  (this 
title-giving  was  brand-new,  having  been  introduced 
as  a  special  mark  of  dignity  fitting  to  the  occasion ; 
and  it  was  not  easy  to  remember!)  —  "  perhaps  you 
will  tell  us  what  you  have  found  out." 

"Well,  the  climate  is  healthful,"  began  Alma, 
hopefully.  "  Texas  is  less  subject  to  malarial  dis- 
eases than  any  of  the  other  states  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  September  is  the  most  rainy  month;  De- 
cember the  least.  The  mean  annual  temperature 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  is  72°;  while 
along  the  Red  River  the  mean  annual  temperature 
is  only  80°.  In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state 
the  mean  annual  —  " 

"  Alma,  please,"  begged  Tilly,  in  mock  horror, 
raising  both  her  hands,  ff  please  don't  give  us  any 
more  of  those  mean  annual  temperatures.  I'm  sure 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  15 

if  they  can  be  any  meaner  than  the  temperature  right 
here  to-day  is,"  she  sighed,  as  she  fell  to  fanning 
herself  vigorously,  "  I  don't  want  to  know  what  it 
is!" 

"  Tilly ! "  gasped  Cordelia,  in  shocked  disap- 
proval. "What  would  Genevieve  say!" 

Tilly  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  Say  ?  She  wouldn't  say  anything  —  she 
couldn't,"  declared  Tilly,  unexpectedly,  "  because 
she'd  be  laughing  at  us  so  for  digging  into  Texas 
like  this  and  unearthing  all  its  poor  little  secrets !  " 

"  But,  Tilly,  I  think  we  ought  to  study  it,"  re- 
proved Cordelia,  majestically,  above  the  laugh  that 
followed  Tilly's  speech.  "  Elsie  —  I  mean,  Miss 
Martin,  —  what  did  you  find  out  to-day?  " 

Elsie  wrinkled  her  nose  in  a  laughing  grimace  at 
Tilly,  then  began  to  speak  in  an  exaggeratedly  sol- 
emn tone  of  voice. 

"  I  find  Texas  is  so  large,  and  contains  so  great  a 
variety  of  soil,  and  climate,  that  any  product  of  the 
United  States  can  be  grown  within  its  limits.  It  is 
a  leader  on  cotton.  Corn,  wheat,  rice,  peanuts, 
sugar  cane  and  potatoes  are  also  grown,  besides 
tobacco." 

"  And  watermelons,  Elsie,"  cut  in  Bertha  Brown. 
"  I  found  in  a  paper  that  just  last  year  Texas  grew 
140,000,000  watermelons." 

"  I  was  coming  to  the  watermelons,"  observed 
Elsie,  with  dignity. 


16  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Wish  I  were  —  I  dote  on  watermelons !  " 
pouted  Tilly  in  an  audible  aside  that  brought  a 
chuckle  of  appreciation  from  Harold  Day. 

Cordelia  gave  her  a  reproachful  look.  Elsie 
went  on,  her  chin  a  little  higher. 

"  Texas  is  the  greatest  producer  of  honey  in  the 
United  States.  As  for  the  cattle  —  prior  to  1775 
there  were  vast  ranches  all  over  Southwestern  Texas, 
and  herds  of  hundreds  of  wild  cattle  were  gathered 
and  driven  to  New  Orleans.  I  found  some  figures 
that  told  the  number  of  animals  in  1892,  or  about 
then.  I'll  give  them.  They're  old  now,  of  course, 
but  they'll  do  to  show  what  a  lot  of  animals  there 
were  there  then." 

Elsie  paused  to  take  breath,  but  for  only  a  mo- 
ment. 

"  There  were  7,500,000  head  of  cattle,  5,000,000 
sheep,  and  1,210,000  horses,  besides  more  than 
2,321,000  hogs." 

There  was  a  sudden  giggle  from  Tilly  —  an  ex- 
plosive giggle  that  brought  every  amazed  eye  upon 
her. 

"Well,  really,  Tilly,"  disapproved  Elsie,  ag- 
.  grievedly,  "  I'm  sure  I  don't  see  what  there  was  s* 
very  funny  in  that !  " 

"There  wasn't,"  choked  Tilly;  "only  I  was 
thinking,  what  an  awful  noise  it  would  be  if  all 
those  2,321,000  hogs  got  under  the  gate  at  once." 

"Tilly!"    scolded    Cordelia;     but    she    laughed. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  17 

She  could  not  help  it.  They  all  laughed.  Even  the 
little  boys  and  girls  on  the  outskirts  giggled  shrilly, 
and  stole  the  opportunity  to  draw  nearer  to  the 
magic  circle.  Almost  at  once,  however,  Cordelia 
regained  her  dignity. 

"  Miss  Mack,  we'll  hear  from  you,  please  —  seri- 
ously, I  mean.  You  haven't  told  us  yet  what  you've 
found." 

Tilly  flushed  a  little. 

"  I  didn't  find  anything." 

"  Why,  Tilly  Mack !  "  cried  a  chorus  of  condemn- 
ing voices. 

"  Well,  I  didn't,"  defended  Tilly.  "  In  the  first 
place  I've  told  everything  I  can  think  of :  trees, 
fruits,  history,  and  everything;  and  this  morning 
I  just  had  to  go  to  Mrs.  Miller's  for  a  fitting." 

"  Oh,  Tilly,  another  new  dress?  "  demanded  Elsie 
Martin,  her  voice  a  pathetic  wail  of  wistfulness. 

"  But  there  are  still  so  many  things,"  argued  Cor- 
delia, her  grave  eyes  fixed  on  Tilly,  "  so  many  things 
to  learn  that  —  "  She  was  interrupted  by  an  eager 
little  voice  from  the  outskirts. 

"  I've  got  something,  please,  Cordelia.  Mayn't 
I  tell  it  ?  It's  a  brand-newest  thing.  Nobody's  said 
it  once !  " 

Cordelia  turned  to  confront  her  ten-year-old 
cousin,  Edith. 

"  Why,  Edith !  " 

"  And  I  have,  too,"  piped  up  Edith's  brother, 


18  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Fred,  with  shrill  earnestness.      (Fred  was  eight.) 
"  And  mine's  new,  too." 

Cordelia  frowned  thoughtfully. 

"  But,  children,  you  don't  belong  to  the  club. 
Only  members  can  talk,  you  know." 

"  Pooh !  let's  hear  it,  Cordelia,"  shrugged  Tilly. 
'"I'm  sure  if  it's  new  we  need  it  —  of  all  the  old 
chestnuts  we've  heard  to-day!" 

"Well,"  agreed  Cordelia,  "what  is  it,  Edith? 
You  spoke  first." 

"  It's  gypsies,"  announced  the  small  girl,  tri- 
umphantly. 

"  Gypsies !  "  chorused  the  Happy  Hexagons  in 
open  unbelief. 

1  Yes.  There's  lots  of  'em  there  —  more  than 
^most  anywhere  else  in  the  world." 

The  girls  looked  at  each  other  with  puzzled  eyes. 

"  Why,  I  never  heard  Genevieve  say  anything 
about  gypsies,"  ventured  Tilly. 

"  Well,  they're  there,  anyhow,"  maintained  Edith; 
"  I  read  it." 

"  You  read  it!    Where?  "  demanded  Cordelia. 

"  In  father's  big  sacTpedia."  Edith's  voice 
sounded  grieved,  but  triumphant.  "  I  was  up  in 
auntie's  room,  and  I  saw  it.  It  was  open  on  her 
bed,  and  I  read  it.  It  said  there  was  coal  and  iron 
and  silver,  and  lots  and  lots  of  gypsies." 

There  was  a  breathless  hush,  followed  suddenly 
by  a  shrieking  laugh  from  Tilly. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  19 

"  Oh,  girls,  girls !  "  she  gasped.  "  That  blessed 
child  means  '  gypsum/  I  saw  that  in  papa's  encyclo- 
pedia just  the  other  day." 

"  But  what  is  gypsum?  "  demanded  Alma  Lane. 

"Mercy!  don't  ask  me,"  shuddered  Tilly.  "I 
looked  it  up  in  the  dictionary,  but  it  only  said  it  was 
a  whole  lot  of  worse  names.  All  I  could  make  out 
was  that  it  had  crystals,  and  was  used  for  dressing 
for  soils,  and  for  plaster  of  Paris.  Gypsies!  Oh, 
Edith,  Edith,  what  a  circus  you  are !  "  she  chuckled, 
going  into  another  gale  of  laughter. 

It  was  Fred's  injured  tones  that  filled  the  first 
pause  in  the  general  hubbub  that  followed  Tilly's 
explanation. 

"  You  haven't  heard  mine,  yet,"  he  challenged. 
"Mine's  right!" 

"  Well  ?  "  questioned  Cordelia,  wiping  her  eyes. 
(Even  Cordelia  had  laughed  till  she  cried.)  "  What 
is  yours,  Fred  ?  " 

"  It's  boats.  There  hasn't  one  of  you  said  a  single 
thing  about  the  boats  you  were  going  to  ride  in." 

"  Boats !  "  cried  the  girls  in  a  second  chorus  of 
unbelief. 

"  Oh,  you  needn't  try  to  talk  me  out  of  that," 
bristled  the  boy.  "  I  know  what  I'm  talking  about. 
Old  Mr.  Hodges  told  me  himself.  He's  been  in  'em. 
He  said  that  years  and  years  ago,  when  he  was  a 
little  boy  like  me,  he  and  his  father  and  mother 
went  'way  across  the  state  of  Texas  in  a  prairie 


20  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

schooner;  and  I  asked  father  that  night  what  a 
schooner  was,  and  he  said  it  was  a  boat.  Well,  he 
did !  "  maintained  Fred,  a  little  angrily,  as  a  shout 
of  laughter  rose  from  the  girls. 

"  And  so  'tis  a  boat  —  some  kinds  of  schooners," 
Harold  Day  soothed  the  boy  quickly,  rising  to  his 
feet,  and  putting  a  friendly  arm  about  the  small 
heaving  shoulders.  "  Come  on,  son,  let's  you  and 
I  go  over  to  the  house.  I've  got  a  dandy  picture  of 
a  prairie  schooner  over  there,  and  we'll  hunt  it  up 
and  see  just  what  it  looks  like."  And  with  a  cere- 
monious "  Good  day,  ladies !  "  and  an  elaborate 
flourish  of  his  hat  toward  the  Happy  Hexagons, 
Harold  drew  the  boy  more  closely  into  the  circle 
of  his  arm  and  turned  away. 

It  was  the  signal  for  a  general  breaking  up  of  the 
club  meeting.  Cordelia,  only,  looked  a  little  anx- 
iously after  the  two  boys,  as  she  complained : 

"  Harold  never  tells  a  thing  that  he  knows  about 
Texas,  and  he  must  know  a  lot  of  things,  even  if 
he  did  leave  there  when  he  was  a  tiny  little  baby !  " 

"Don't  you  fret,  Cordy,"  retorted  Tilly.  (Cor- 
delia did  not  like  to  be  called  "  Cordy,"  and  Tilly 
knew  it.)  "Harold  Day  will  talk  Texas  all  right 
after  Genevieve  gets  back.  Besides,  you  couldn't 
expect  a  boy  to  join  in  with  a  girls'  club  like  us, 
just  as  if  he  were  another  girl  —  specially  as  he 
isn't  going  to  Texas,  anyway." 

"  Well,  all  he  ever  does  is  just  to  sit  and  look 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


bored  —  except  when  Tilly  gets  in  some  of  her 
digs,"  chuckled  Bertha. 

"  Glad  I'm  good  for  something,  if  nothing  but  to 
stir  up  Harold,  then,"  laughed  Tilly,  as  she  turned 
away  to  answer  Elsie  Martin's  anxious  :  "  Tilly, 
what  color  is  the  new  dress  ?  Is  it  red  ?  " 

It  was  the  next  day  that  the  letter  came  from 
Genevieve.  Cordelia  brought  it  to  the  club  meeting 
that  afternoon;  and  so  full  of  importance  and  ex- 
citement was  she  that  for  once  she  quite  forgot  to 
open  the  meeting  with  her  usual  ceremony. 

"  Girls,  girls,  just  listen  to  this  !  "  she  began 
breathlessly. 

The  Happy  Hexagons  opened  wide  their  eyes. 
Never  before  had  they  seen  the  usually  placid  Cor- 
delia like  this. 

"  Why,  Cordelia,  you're  almost  girlish  !  '*  ob- 
served Tilly,  cheerfully. 

Cordelia  did  not  seem  even  to  hear  this  gibe. 

"  It's  a  letter  from  Genevieve,"  she  panted,  as  she 
hurriedly  spread  open  the  sheet  of  note  paper  in  her 
hand. 

"  Dear  Cordelia,  and  the  whole  Club,"  read  Cor- 
delia, excitedly.  "  I  came  up  yesterday  from  New 
Jersey  with  the  Hardings  for  two  days  in  New- 
York.  I  have  been  to  see  the  animals  at  the  Zoo 
all  the  afternoon,  and  I'm  going  to  see  the  Hippo- 
drome this  evening.  That  sounds  like  another  ani- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


mal,  but  it  isn't  one,  they  say.  It's  a  place  all  lights 
and  music  and  crowds,  and  with  a  stage  'most  as 
big  as  Texas  itself,  with  scores  of  real  horses  and 
cowboys  riding  all  over  it. 

"  I  am  having  a  perfectly  beautiful  time,  but  I 
just  can't  wait  to  see  my  own  beloved  home  on  the 
big  prairie,  and  have  you  all  there  with  me.  I 
sha'n't  see  it  quite  so  soon  though,  for  father  has 
been  delayed  about  some  of  his  business,  and  he 
can't  come  for  me  quite  so  soon  as  he  expected.  He 
says  we  sha'n't  get  away  from  Sunbridge  until  the 
fifth;  but  he's  engaged  five  sections  in  a  sleeper 
leaving  Boston  at  eight  P.  M.  So  we'll  go  then  sure. 

"  Mrs.  Harding  is  calling  me.  Good-by  till  I  see 
you.  We're  coming  the  third.  With  heaps  of  love 
to  everybody,  Your  own 

"  GENEVIEVE  HARTLEY." 

"  Well,  I  like  that,"  bridled  Tilly.  "  Just  think 
—  not  go  until  the  fifth  !  " 

"  Oh,  but  just  think  of  going  at  all,"  comforted 
Alma  Lane,  hurriedly;  "and  in  sleepers,  too! 
Sleepers  are  loads  of  fun.  I  rode  in  one  fifty  miles, 
once  —  it  wasn't  in  the  night,  though." 

"  I  rode  in  one  at  night  !  "  Tilly's  voice  rose 
dominant,  triumphant. 

"  My  stars  !  " 

"When?" 

"Where?" 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  23 

"What  was  it  like?" 

"Was  it  fun?" 

"Why  didn't  you  tell  us?" 

Tilly  laughed  in  keen  enjoyment  of  the  commo- 
tion she  had  created. 

"  Don't  you  wish  you  knew  ?  "  she  teased.  "  Just 
you  wait  and  see !  " 

"  Yes,  but,  Tilly,  do  they  lay  you  down  on  a  little 
narrow  shelf,  really?"  worried  Cordelia. 

"  I  sha'n't  take  off  a  single  thing,  anyhow,"  an- 
nounced Bertha,  with  decision,  "  not  even  my  shoes. 
I'm  just  sure  there'll  be  an  accident !  " 

Tilly  laughed  merrily. 

"  A  fine  traveler  you'll  make,  Bertha,"  she 
scoffed.  "  Sleepers  are  made  to  sleep  in,  young 
lady  —  not  to  lie  awake  and  worry  in,  for  fear 
there'll  be  an  accident  and  you'll  lose  your  shoes. 
As  for  you,  Cordy,  and  the  shelf  you're  fretting 
over  —  there  are  shelves,  in  a  way;  but  you  lay 
yourself  down  on  them,  my  child.  Nobody  else 
does  it  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,"  returned  Cordelia,  a  little  stiffly. 
Cordelia  did  not  like  to  be  called  "  my  child  "  — 
specially  by  Tilly,  who  was  not  quite  sixteen,  and 
who  was  the  youngest  member  of  the  club. 

"But,  Tilly,  are  —  are  sleepers  nice,  daytimes?" 
asked  Edith  Wilson,  who,  as  usual,  was  hovering 
near.  "  I  should  think  they'd  be  lovely  for  nights  — 
but  I  wouldn't  like  to  have  to  lie  down  all  day ! " 


24  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Tilly  laughed  so  hard  at  this  that  Edith  grew  red 
of  face  indeed  before  Alma  patched  matters  up  and 
made  peace. 

It  was  the  trip  to  Texas  that  was  the  all-absorb- 
ing topic  of  discussion  that  day;  and  it  was  the 
trip  to  Texas  that  Cordelia  Wilson  was  thinking  of 
as  she  walked  slowly  home  that  night  after  leaving 
the  girls  at  the  corner. 

"  I  wonder  —  "  she  began  just  under  her  breath ; 
then  stopped  short.  An  old  man,  known  as  "  Uncle 
Bill  Hodges,"  stood  directly  in  her  path. 

"  Miss  Cordelia,  I  —  I  want  to  speak  to  ye,  just  a 
minute,"  he  stammered. 

"  Yes,  sir."    Cordelia  smiled  politely. 

The  old  man  threw  a  suspicious  glance  over  his 
shoulder,  then  came  a  step  nearer. 

"  I  ain't  tellin'  this  everywhere,  Miss  Cordelia, 
and  I  don't  want  you  to  say  nothin'.  You're  goin' 
to  Texas,  they  tell  me." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Hodges,  I  am."  Cordelia  tried  to 
make  her  voice  sound  properly  humble,  but  pride 
would  vibrate  through  it. 

"  Well,  I  —  "  The  man  hesitated,  looked  around 
again  suspiciously,  then  blurted  out  a  storm  of 
words  with  the  rush  of  desperation.  "I  —  years 
ago,  Miss  Cordelia,  I  let  a  man  in  Boston  have  a  lot 
of  money.  He  said  'twas  goin'  into  an  oil  well  out 
in  Texas,  and  that  when  it  came  back  there'd  be  a 
lot  more  with  it  a-comin'  to  me.  So  I  let  him  have 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  25 

it.  I  liked  Texas,  anyhow  —  I'd  been  there  as  a 
boy." 

"  Yes,"  nodded  Cordelia,  smiling  as  she  remem- 
bered the  prairie  schooner  that  was  Fred's  "  boat." 

"  Well,  for  a  while  I  did  get  money  —  dividends, 
he  called  'em.  Then  it  all  stopped  off  short.  They 
shut  the  man  up  in  prison,  and  closed  the  office. 
And  there's  all  my  money !  They  do  be  sayin',  too, 
that  there  ain't  no  such  place  as  this  oil  well  there  — 
that  is,  not  the  way  he  said  it  was  —  so  big  and  fine 
and  promisin'.  Well,  now,  of  course  I  can't  go  to 
see,  Miss  Cordelia  —  an  old  man  like  me,  all  the 
way  to  Texas.  But  you  are  goin'.  So  I  thought  I'd 
just  ask  you  to  look  around  a  little  if  you  happened 
to  hear  anything  about  this  well.  Maybe  you  could 
go  and  see  it,  and  then  tell  me.  I've  written  down 
the  name  on  this  paper,"  finished  the  man,  thrusting 
his  trembling  fingers  into  his  pocket,  and  bringing 
out  a  small  piece  of  not  over-clean  paper. 

"  Why,  of  —  of  course,  Mr.  Hodges,"  promised 
Cordelia,  doubtfully,  as  she  took  the  paper.  "  I'd 
love  to  do  anything  I  could  for  you  —  anything ! 
Only  I'm  afraid  I  don't  know  much  about  oil  wells, 
you  see.  Do  they  look  just  like  —  water  wells,  with 
a  pump  or  a  bucket?  Bertha's  aunt  has  one  of  those 
on  her  farm." 

"  I  don't  know,  child,  I  don't  know,"  murmured 
the  old  man,  shaking  his  head  sadly,  as  he  turned 
away.  "  Sometimes  I  think  there  ain't  any  such 


26  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

things,  anyhow.     But  you'll  do  your  best,  I  know. 
I  can  trust  you!" 

"  Why,  of  course,"  returned  Cordelia,  earnestly, 
slipping  the  bit  of  paper  into  the  envelope  of  Gene- 
vieve's  letter  in  her  hand. 

In  her  own  room  that  night  Cordelia  Wilson  got 
out  her  list  marked  "  Things  to  do  in  Texas,"  and 
studied  it  with  troubled  eyes.  She  had  now  one 
more  item  to  add  to  it  —  and  it  was  already  so  long ! 

She  had  started  the  list  for  her  own  benefit. 
Then  had  come  the  request  from  queer  old  Hermit 
Joe  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  his  son  who  had  gone 
years  ago  to  Texas.  After  that,  commissions  for 
others  followed  rapidly.  So  many  people  had  so 
many  things  they  wanted  her  to  do  in  Texas !  — 
and  nobody  wanted  them  talked  about  in  Sunbridge. 

Slowly,  with  careful  precision,  she  wrote  down 
this  last  one.  Then,  a  little  dubiously,  she  read 
over  the  list. 

See  the  blue  bonnet  —  the  Texas  state  flower. 
Find  out  if  it  really  is  shaped  like  a  bonnet. 

Bring  home  a  piece  of  prairie  grass. 

See  a  real  buffalo. 

*    Find  Hermit  Joe's  son,  John,  who  ran  away  to 
Texas  twenty  years  ago. 

See  an  Osage  orange  hedge. 

See  a  broncho  bursted  (obviously  changed  over 
from  "busted"). 

Find  out  for  Mrs.  Miller  if  cowboys  do  shoot  at 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  27 

sight,  and  yell  always  without  just  and  due  provo- 
cation. 

See  a  mesquite  tree. 

Inquire  if  any  one  has  seen  Mrs.  Snow's  daughter, 
Lizzie,  who  ran  away  with  a  Texas  man  named 
Higgins. 

Pick  a  fig. 

See  a  rice  canal. 

Find  out  what  has  become  of  Mrs.  Granger's 
cousin,  Lester  Goodwin,  who  went  to  Texas  four- 
teen years  ago. 

See  cotton  growing  and  pick  a  cotton  boll,  called 
"  Texas  Roses." 

See  peanuts  growing. 

Inquire  for  James  Hunt,  brother  of  Miss  Sally 
Hunt. 

See  a  real  Indian. 

Look  at  oil  well  for  Mr.  Hodges,  and  see  if  there 
is  any  there. 

"  Now  if  I  can  just  fix  all  those  people's  names 
in  my  mind,"  mused  Cordelia,  aloud ;  "  and  seems 
as  if  I  might  —  there  are  only  four.  John  Sanborn, 
Lizzie  Higgins,  Lester  Goodwin,  and  James  Hunt," 
she  chanted  over  and  over  again.  She  was  still  • 
droning  the  same  refrain  when  she  fell  asleep  that 
night. 


28  SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    III 

THE    COMING   OF    GENEVIEVE 

GENEVIEVE  was  to  arrive  in  Sunbridge  at  three 
o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  third  of  July.  Her 
father  was  to  remain  in  Boston  until  one  of  the 
evening  trains.  The  Happy  Hexagons,  knowing 
Genevieve's  plans,  decided  to  give  her  a  welcome  be- 
fitting the  club  and  the  occasion.  They  invited 
Harold  Day,  of  course,  to  join  them. 

Harold  laughed  good-humoredly. 

"  Oh,  I'll  be  there  all  right,  at  the  station,"  he 
assured  them.  "  I've  got  Mrs.  Kennedy's  permis- 
sion to  bring  her  up  to  the  house ;  but  I  don't  think 
I'll  join  in  on  your  show.  I'll  let  you  girls  do  that." 

The  girls  pouted  a  little,  but  they  were  too  excited 
to  remain  long  out  of  humor. 

"  Don't  our  dresses  look  pretty !  I  know  Gene- 
vieve'll  be  pleased/'  sighed  Elsie  Martin,  as,  long 
before  the  train  was  due  that  afternoon,  the  girls 
arrived  at  the  station. 

"  Of  course  she'll  be  pleased,"  cried  Alma  Lane. 
"  She  can't  help  it.  I  can  hear  her  laugh  and  clap 
her  hands  now,  when  she  sees  us  —  and  hears  as !  " 


A     TALL,     SLENDER     GIRL    .     .     .    APPEARED     AT     A     CAR 
DOOR  " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  29 

"  So  can  I,"  echoed  Bertha.  "  And  how  her 
eyes  will  dance!  I  love  to  see  Genevieve's  eyes 
dance." 

"  So  do  I,"  chorused  the  others,  fervently. 

Sunbridge  was  a  quiet  little  town  in  southern 
New  Hampshire  near  the  state  line.  It  had  wide, 
tree-shaded  streets,  and  green-shuttered  white 
houses  set  far  back  in  spacious  lawns.  The  station 
at  this  hour  was  even  quieter  than  the  town,  and 
there  were  few  curious  eyes  to  question  the  mean- 
ing of  the  unusual  appearance  of  five  laughing,  ex- 
cited young  girls,  all  dressed  alike,  and  all  showing 
flushed  cheeks  and  sparkling  eyes. 

At  one  minute  before  three  o'clock,  a  tall,  good- 
looking  youth  drove  up  in  a  smart  trap,  and  was 
hailed  with  shouts  of  mingled  joy  and  relief. 

"  Oh,  Harold,  we  were  just  sure  you  were  going 
to  be  late,"  cried  Cordelia. 

"Late?  Not  I  —  to-day!"  laughed  the  boy. 
Then,  with  genuine  admiration :  "  Say,  that  is 
pretty  slick,  girls.  I'll  take  off  my  hat  to  the  Happy 
Hexagons  to-day  all  right !  "  he  finished,  with  an 
elaborate  flourish. 

"  Thank  you,"  twittered  Tilly,  saucily.  "  Now 
don't  you  wish  you  had  joined  us?  But  then  — 
you  couldn't  have  worn  a  white  frock !  " 

A  prolonged  bell-clanging  and  the  rumble  of  an 
approaching  train  prevented  Harold's  reply,  and 
sent  the  girls  into  a  flutter  of  excitement.  A  mo- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


ment  later  they  stood  in  line,  waiting,  breathless 
with  suspense. 

They  made  a  wonderfully  pretty  picture.  Each 
girl  was  in  white,  even  to  her  shoes  and  stockings. 
Around  each  waist  was  a  sash  of  a  handsome  shade 
of  blue.  The  same  color  showed  at  the  throat  and 
on  the  hair. 

Quietly  they  watched  the  train  roll  into  the  sta- 
tion, and  still  quietly  they  stood  until  a  tall,  slender 
girl  with  merry  brown  eyes  and  soft  fluffy  brown 
hair  appeared  at  a  car  door  and  tripped  lightly  down 
the  steps  to  the  platform.  They  waited  only  till  she 
ran  toward  them;  then  in  gleeful  chorus  they 
chanted : 

"  Texas,  Texas,  Tex  —  Tex  —  Texas! 
Texas,  Texas,  Rah!  Rah!  Rah! 
GENEVIEVE!" 

What  happened  next  was  a  surprise.  Genevieve 
did  not  laugh,  nor  cry  out,  nor  clap  her  hands.  Her 
eyes  did  not  dance.  She  stopped  and  fumbled  with 
the  fastening  of  her  suit-case.  The  next  minute  the 
train  drew  out  of  the  station,  and  the  girls  were  left 
alone  in  their  corner.  Genevieve  looked  up,  at  that, 
and  came  swiftly  toward  them. 

They  saw  then :  the  brown  eyes  were  full  of  tears. 

The  girls  had  intended  to  repeat  their  Texas  yell ; 
but  with  one  accord  now  they  cried  out  in  dismay: 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  31 

"Genevieve!  Why,  Genevieve,  you're  —  cry- 
ing!" 

"  I  know  I  am,  and  I  could  shake  myself,"  choked 
Genevieve,  hugging  each  girl  in  turn  spasmodically. 

"  But,  Genevieve,  what  is  the  matter?  "  appealed 
Cordelia. 

"  I  don't  know,  I  don't  know  —  and  that's  what's 
the  trouble,"  wailed  Genevieve.  "  I  don't  know  why 
I'm  crying  when  I'm  so  g-glad  to  see  you.  But  I 
reckon  'twas  that  —  '  Texas  ' !  " 

"  But  we  thought  you'd  like  that,"  argued  Elsie. 

"  I  did  —  I  do,"  stammered  Genevieve,  incoher- 
ently ;  "  and  it  made  me  cry  to  think  I  did  —  I  mean, 
to  think  I  do  —  so  much !  " 

"  Well,  we're  glad  you  did,  or  do,  anyhow," 
laughed  Harold  Day,  holding  out  his  hand.  "  And 
we're  glad  you're  back  again.  I've  got  Jerry  here 
and  the  cart.  This  your  bag?  " 

'  Yes,  right  here ;  and  thank  you,  Harold,"  she 
smiled  a  little  mistily.  "  And  girls,  you're  lovely  — 
just  lovely ;  and  I  don't  know  why  I'm  crying.  But 
you're  to  come  over  —  straight  over  to  the  house 
this  very  afternoon.  I  want  to  hear  that '  T-Texas  ' 
again.  I  want  to  hear  it  six  times  running !  "  she 
finished,  as  she  sprang  lightly  into  the  cart. 

On  the  way  with  Harold,  she  grew  more  calm. 

"  You  see,  once,  last  fall,  I  said  I  hated  Sun- 
bridge,  and  that  I  wouldn't  stay,"  she  explained  a 
little  shame- facedly. 


32  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  You  said  you  hated  it!  "  cried  Harold.  "  You 
never  told  me  that.  Why,  I  thought  you  liked  it 
here." 

"  I  do,  now,  and  I  did  —  very  soon,  specially 
after  I'd  met  some  one  I  could  talk  Texas  to  all  I 
wanted  to  —  you,  you  know !  I  reckon  I  never  told 
you,  but  you  were  a  regular  safety  valve  for  me  in 
those  days/' 

"Was  I?  "laughed  the  lad. 

"  Yes,  even  from  that  first  day,"  nodded  Gene- 
vieve,  with  a  half-wistful  smile.  "  Did  I  ever  tell 
you  the  reason,  the  real  reason,  why  Aunt  Julia 
called  you  into  the  yard  that  afternoon?  " 

"  Why,  no  —  not  that  I  know  of."  Harold's  face 
showed  a  puzzled  frown. 

"  Well,  'twas  this.  I'd  been  here  a  week,  and  I 
was  so  homesick  and  lonesome  for  father  and  the 
ranch  and  all.  I  was  threatening  to  go  back.  I 
declared  I'd  walk  back,  if  there  was  no  other  way. 
Poor  Aunt  Julia !  She  tried  everything.  Specially 
she  tried  to  have  me  meet  some  nice  girls,  but  I  just 
wouldn't.  I  said  I  didn't  want  any  girls  that  weren't 
Texas  girls.  I  didn't  want  anything  that  wasn't 
Texas.  That's  what  I'd  been  saying  that  very  day 
out  under  the  trees  there,  when  Aunt  Julia  looked 
toward  the  street,  saw  you,  and  called  you  into  the 
yard." 

"  Is  that  why  she  introduced  me  as  the  boy  who 
was  born  in  Texas  ?  "  laughed  Harold. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  33 

"  Yes ;  and  you  know  how  I  began  to  talk  Texas 
right  away." 

"  But  I  couldn't  help  much  —  I  left  there  when  I 
was  a  baby." 

"  I  know,  but  you'd  been  there,"  laughed  Gene- 
vieve,  "  and  that  helped.  Then,  through  you,  I  met 
your  cousin  Alma,  and  the  rest  was  easy,  for  I  al- 
ways had  you  for  that  safety  valve,  to  talk  Texas 
to.  You  see,  it  was  just  that  I  got  homesick.  All 
my  life  I'd  lived  on  the  ranch,  and  things  here  were 
so  different.  I  didn't  like  to  —  to  mind  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy and  Miss  Jane,  very  well,  I  suspect.  You  see, 
at  the  ranch  I'd  always  had  my  own  way,  and  —  I 
liked  it." 

"  Well,  I'm  sure  that's  natural,"  nodded  Har- 
old. 

"I  know;  but  I  wasn't  nice  about  it,"  returned 
the  girl,  wistfully.  "  Father  said  I  must  do  every- 
thing —  everything  they  said.  And  I  tried  to.  But 
Miss  Jane  had  such  heaps  of  things  for  me  to  do, 
and  such  tiresome  things,  like  dusting  and  prac- 
tising, and  learning  to  cook  and  to  sew!  And  it 
all  was  specially  hard  when  you  remember  that  I 
didn't  want  to  come  East  in  the  first  place.  But  I 
love  it  here,  now ;  you  know  I  do.  Every  one  has 
been  so  good  to  me!  Aunt  Julia  is  a  dear." 

"And  —  Miss  Jane?"  queried  Harold,  eyeing 
her  a  little  mischievously. 

Genevieve  blushed. 


34  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Miss  Jane  ?  Well,  she's  'most  a  dear,  too  — 
sometimes.  As  for  Sunbridge  —  I  love  both  the 
East  and  the  West  now.  Don't  you  see?  But,  to- 
day, coming  up  from  Boston,  I  got  to  thinking 
about  it  —  my  dear  prairie  home ;  and  how  I  had 
hated  to  leave  it,  and  how  now  I  was  going  back 
to  it  with  Aunt  Julia  and  the  girls  all  with  me. 
And  I  was  so  happy,  so  wonderfully  happy,  that  a 
great  big  something  rose  within  me,  and  I  felt  so 
—  so  queer,  as  if  I  could  fly,  and  fly,  and  fly!  And 
then,  when  I  saw  the  girls  all  dressed  alike  so 
prettily,  and  heard  the  '  Texas,  Texas,  Texas  '  — 
what  did  I  do  ?  I  didn't  do  anything  but  cry  — 
cry,  Harold,  just  as  if  I  didn't  like  things.  And 
the  girls  were  so  disappointed,  I  know  they 
were !  " 

"  Never  mind ;  I  guess  you  can  make  them  un- 
derstand —  anyhow,  you  have  me,"  said  Harold, 
trying  to  speak  with  a  lightness  that  would  hide  the 
fact  that  her  words  had  made  him,  too,  feel  "  queer." 
Harold  did  not  enjoy  feeling  "  queer." 

A  moment  later  they  turned  into  the  broad  white 
driveway  that  led  up  to  the  Kennedy  home. 

On  the  veranda  of  the  fine  old  house  stood  a 
sweet-faced,  motherly-looking  woman  with  tender 
eyes  and  a  loving  smile.  Near  her  was  a  taller, 
younger  woman  with  eyes  almost  as  interested, 
and  a  smile  almost  as  cordial. 

"  You  dears  —  both  of  you !  "  cried  Genevieve, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  35 

running  up  the  steps  and  into  the  arms  of  the  two 
women. 

"  Thank  you,  Harold,"  smiled  Mrs.  Kennedy  over 
Genevieve's  bobbing  head;  "  thank  you  for  bringing 
our  little  girl  home." 

"  As  if  I  wasn't  glad  to  do  it!  "  laughed  the  boy, 
gallantly,  as  he  picked  up  the  reins  and  sprang  into 
the  cart.  To  the  horse  he  added  later,  when  quite 
out  of  earshot  of  the  ladies :  "  Jerry,  I'm  thinking 
Genevieve  isn't  the  only  one  in  that  house  that  has 
'  improved '  since  last  August.  It  strikes  me  that 
Miss  Jane  Chick  has  done  a  little  on  her  own  ac- 
count. Did  you  see  that  smile?  That  was  a  really, 
truly  smile,  Jerry.  Not  the  '  I-suppose-I-must ' 
kind!" 

Genevieve  and  the  two  ladies  were  still  on  the 
veranda  when  the  five  white-clad  girls  turned  in  at 
the  broad  front  walk. 

"  We  came  around  this  way  home,"  announced 
Tilly.  "  You  said  you  wanted  us." 

"  Want  you !  Well,  I  reckon  I  do,"  cried  Gene- 
vieve, springing  to  her  feet.  "  Come  up  here  this 
minute !  Now  say  it  —  say  it  again  —  that  thing 
you  did  at  the  station.  I  want  Aunt  Julia  to  hear 
it  —  and  Miss  Jane." 

The  change  in  Genevieve's  voice  and  manner  was 
unconscious,  but  it  was  very  evident.  No  one  no- 
ticed it  apparently,  however,  but  Tilly;  and  she 
only  puckered  her  lips  into  an  odd  little  smile  as  she 


36  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

formed  in  line  with  the  other  girls:  Tilly  was  not 
without  some  experience  herself  with  Miss  Jane 
and  her  ways. 

"  Now,  one,  two,  three,  ready !  "  counted  Cor- 
delia, sternly,  her  face  a  tragedy  of  responsibility 
lest  this  final  triumph  of  their  labors  should  be  any- 
thing less  than  the  glorious  success  the  occasion  de- 
manded. 

Once  more  five  eager,  girlish  countenances  faced 
squarely  front.  Once  more  five  fresh  young  voices 
chanted  with  lusty  precision : 

"  Texas,  Texas,  Tex  —  Tex  —  Texas! 
Texas,  Texas,  Rah!  Rah!  Rah! 
GENEVIEVE!" 

s 

It  was  finished.  Cordelia,  with  the  expression  of 
one  from  whom  the  weight  of  nations  has  been 
lifted,  drew  a  happy  sigh,  and  looked  confidently 
about  for  her  reward.  Almost  at  once,  however, 
her  face  clouded  perplexedly. 

Genevieve  was  dancing  lightly  on  her  toes  and 
clapping  her  hands  softly.  Mrs.  Kennedy  was 
laughing  with  her  handkerchief  to  her  lips.  But 
Miss  Jane  Chick  —  Miss  Jane  Chick  was  sitting 
erect,  her  eyes  plainly  horrified,  her  hands  clapped 
to  her  ears. 

"  Children,  children ! "  she  gasped,  as  soon  as 
there  was  a  chance  for  her  voice  to  be  heard.  "  You 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  37 

don't  mean  to  say  that  you  did  that  —  at  a  public 
railroad  station!  " 

Cordelia  looked  distressed.  The  other  girls  bit 
their  lips  and  lifted  their  chins  just  a  little:  they 
did  not  like  to  be  called  "  children." 

"  But,  Miss  Chick,"  stammered  Cordelia,  "  we 
didn't  think  — that  is,  we  wanted  to  do  something 
to  welcome  Genevieve,  and  —  and  —  "  Cordelia 
stopped,  and  swallowed  chokingly. 

"  But  to  shout  like  that,"  protested  Miss  Chick. 
:<  You  —  young  ladies! " 

The  girls  bit  their  lips  still  harder  and  lifted  their 
chins  still  higher :  they  were  not  quite  sure  whether 
they  more  disliked  to  be  "  children  "  or  "  young 
ladies  "  —  in  that  tone  of  voice. 

"  Oh,  but  Miss  Jane,"  argued  Genevieve,  "  you 
know  Sunbridge  station  is  just  dead,  simply  dead  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Nobody  ever  comes 
on  that  train,  hardly,  and  there  wasn't  a  soul  around 
but  that  sleepy  Mr.  Jones  and  the  station  men,  and 
that  old  Mrs.  Palmer.  And  you  know  she  wouldn't 
hear  a  gun  go  off  right  under  her  nose." 

"  Genevieve,  my  dear !  "  murmured  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy —  but  her  eyes  were  twinkling. 

Cordelia  still  looked  troubled. 

"  I  know,  Genevieve,"  she  frowned  anxiously, 
"  but  I  never  thought  of  it  that  way  —  what  others 
would  think.  Maybe  we  ought  not  to  have  done  it, 
after  all.  But  I'm  sure  we  didn't  mean  any  harm." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


Promptly,  now,  Mrs.  Kennedy  came  to  the 
rescue. 

"  Of  course  you  did  not,  dear  child,"  she  said, 
smiling  into  Cordelia's  troubled  eyes ;  "  and  it  was 
very  sweet  and  lovely  of  you  girls  to  think  of  giving 
Genevieve  such  a  pretty  welcome.  Oh,  of  course," 
she  added  with  a  whimsical  glance  at  her  sister, 
"  we  shouldn't  exactly  advise  you  to  make  a  prac- 
tice of  welcoming  everybody  home  in  that  somewhat 
startling  fashion.  That  really  wouldn't  do,  you 
know.  Sunbridge  station  might  not  be  quite  so 
dead  next  time,"  she  finished,  meeting  Genevieve's 
grateful  eyes. 

"  That  really  was  dear  of  you,  Aunt  Julia,"  con- 
fided Genevieve  some  time  later,  after  the  girls  had 
gone,  and  when  she  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  were  alone 
together.  (Miss  Jane  had  gone  up-stairs.)  "  Only 
think  of  the  pains  they  took  —  to  get  themselves 
up  to  look  so  pretty,  besides  learning  to  give  that  yell 
so  finely.  I  was  so  afraid  they'd  be  hurt  at  what 
Miss  Jane  said !  And  I  wouldn't  want  them  hurt  — 
after  all  that!" 

"  Of  course  you  wouldn't,"  smiled  Mrs.  Kennedy; 
"  and  my  sister  wouldn't  either,  dear." 

Genevieve  stirred  restlessly. 

"I  know  she  wouldn't,  Aunt  Julia;  but  —  but 
the  girls  don't  know  it.  They  —  they  don't  under- 
stand Miss  Jane." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  39 

"And  do  you  —  always?"  The  question  was 
gently  put,  but  its  meaning  was  unmistakable. 

Genevieve  colored. 

"  Maybe  not  —  quite  always ;  but  —  Miss  Jane 
is  so  —  so  shockable !  " 

Mrs.  Kennedy  made  a  sudden  movement.  Ap- 
parently she  only  stooped  to  pick  up  a  small  thread 
from  the  floor,  but  when  she  came  upright  her  face 
was  a  deeper  red  than  just  that  exertion  would  seem 
to  occasion. 

"  Genevieve,  have  you  been  to  your  room  since 
you  came  home?"  she  asked.  There  were  times 
when  Mrs.  Kennedy  could  change  the  subject  almost 
as  abruptly  as  could  Genevieve  herself. 

"  No,  AuntTJulia.  You  know  Nancy  carried  up 
my  suit-case,  and  I've  been  too  busy  telling  you  all 
about  my  visit  to  think  of  anything  else." 

"  Oh/'  smiled  Mrs.  Kennedy.  "  I  was  just  won- 
dering." 

Genevieve  frowned  in  puzzled  questioning. 

"  Well,  I'm  going  up  right  away,  anyhow,"  she 
said.  "  Mercy !  I  reckon  I'll  go  up  right  now,"  she 
added  laughingly,  springing  to  her  feet  as  there 
came  through  the  open  window  behind  her  the 
sound  of  a  clock  striking  half-past  five.  "  I  had  no 
idea  it  was  so  late." 

Genevieve  was  not  many  minutes  in  her  room  be- 
fore she  ceased  to  wonder  at  Mrs.  Kennedy's  ques- 
tioning; for  in  plain  sight  on  her  dressing-table 


40  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

she  soon  found  a  small  white  box  addressed  to  Gene- 
vieve  Hartley.  The  box,  upon  being  opened,  dis- 
closed in  a  white  velvet  nest  a  beautiful  little  chate- 
laine watch  in  dark  blue  enamel  and  gold. 

"  To  keep  Genevieve's  time. 
"  With  much  love  from 

"  Jane  Chick." 

read  Genevieve  on  the  little  card  that  was  with  the 
watch. 

"  Oh,  oh,  oh,  how  lovely ! "  breathed  the  girl, 
hovering  over  the  watch  in  delight.  "  And  to  think 
what  I  said !  "  With  a  heightened  color  she  turned, 
tripped  across  the  room  and  hurried  down  the  hall 
to  Miss  Jane's  door. 

"Miss  Jane!" 

"Yes,  dear." 

"May  I  come  in?" 

"  Yes,  indeed." 

"I  —  I  want  to  thank  you  —  oh,  I  do  want  to 
thank  you,  but  I  don't  know  how."  Genevieve's 
eyes  were  misty. 

"  For  the  watch?    You  like  it,  then?  " 

"  Like  it!  I  just  love  it;  and  I  never,  never  saw 
such  a  beauty !  " 

"  I'm  glad  you  like  it." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause.  Over  by  the  dress- 
ing-table Miss  Jane  was  carefully  smoothing  a  re- 
fractory lock  of  hair  into  place.  She  looked  so 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  41 

calm,  so  self-contained,  so  —  far  away,  thought 
Genevieve;  if  it  had  been  Aunt  Julia,  now! 

Suddenly  the  girl  gave  a  little  skipping  run  and 
enveloped  the  lady  in  two  wide-flung  young  arms, 
thereby  ruffling  up  more  than  ever  the  carefully 
smoothed  lock  of  hair. 

"  Miss  Jane,  I  —  I've  just  got  to  hug  you,  any- 
way!" 

"  Why,  Genevieve,  my  dear !  "  murmured  Miss 
Jane,  a  little  dazedly. 

From  the  door  Genevieve  called  back  incoherently 

—  the  hug  had  been  as  short  in  duration  as  it  had 
been  sudden  in  action : 

"  I  don't  think  I  can  be  late  now,  Miss  Jane,  ever 

—  with  that  lovely  thing  to  keep  time  for  me.    And 
I  wanted  you  to  know  —  next  year,  when  I  come 
back,  I'm  just  sure  I  shall  cook  and  sew  beautifully, 
and  do  my  practising  and  everything,  without  once 
being  told.     And  if  I  do  sprain  my  ankle  I'll  be  a 
perfect  angel  —  truly  I  will.    And  I  won't  ever  keep 
folks  waiting,  either,  or  —  mercy!   there's  Nancy's 
first  ring  now,  and  I'm  not  one  bit  ready !  "  she 
broke  off,  as  the  musical  notes  of  a  Chinese  gong 
sounded  from  the  hall  below.     The  next  moment 
Miss  Jane  was  alone  with  her  thoughts  —  and  with 
the  lock  of  hair  that  she  was  still  trying  to  smooth. 

"  Dear  child !  "  smiled  the  lady.  Then  she  turned 
abruptly  and  hastened  from  the  room,  her  hair  still 
unsmoothed.  "  I'll  just  tell  Nancy  to  be  a  little 


42  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

slow  about  ringing  that  second  gong,"  she  mur- 
mured. 

When  Genevieve  came  down-stairs  to  supper 
that  night,  she  brought  with  her  two  books  r  one  a 
small  paper-covered  one,  the  other  a  larger  one 
bound  in  dark  red  leather. 

"  Here's  the  latest  '  Pathfinder '  —  only  I  call  it 
'  Pathloser/''1  she  laughed,  handing  the  smaller 
book  to  Miss  Jane  Chick ;  "  and  here  is  —  well,  just 
see  what  is  here,"  she  finished  impressively,  spread- 
ing open  the  leather-covered  book  before  Mrs. 
Kennedy's  eyes. 

"  *  Chronicles  of  the  Hexagon  Club,'  "  read  Mrs. 
Kennedy.  "  Oh,  a  journal !  "  she  smiled. 

"  Yes,  Aunt  Julia.     Isn't  it  lovely?  " 

"  Indeed  it  is !    Who  will  keep  it?  " 

"  All  of  us.  We  are  going  to  take  turns.  We 
shall  write  a  day  apiece  —  we  six  Happy  Hexagons 
of  the  Hexagon  Club." 

"  Do  the  girls  know  about  it  ?  "  asked  Miss  Jane. 

"  Not  yet.  I  just  thought  of  it  yesterday  when 
I  saw  the  book  in  the  store.  Father  bought  it  for 
the  club  —  of  course  my  money  was  gone  long  ago 
—  at  such  a  time  as  this"  she  explained  with  laugh- 
ing emphasis.  "  I'm  going  to  show  the  book  to  the 
girls  to-morrow.  Won't  they  be  tickled  —  I  mean 
pleased,"  corrected  Genevieve,  throwing  a  hasty 
glance  into  Miss  Jane's  smiling  eyes. 

"  I  think  they  will,"  agreed  that  lady,  pleasantly. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  43 

The  girls  were  pleased,  indeed,  when  Genevieve 
told  of  her  plan  and  showed  the  book  the  next  day. 
But  even  so  entrancing  a  subject  as  a  journal  kept 
by  each  in  turn  could  not  hold  their  attention  long; 
for  time  was  very  short  now,  and  in  every  house- 
hold there  were  a  dozen-and-one  last  things  to  be 
done  before  the  momentous  fifth  of  July.  Even  the 
Fourth,  with  its  fun  and  its  firecrackers  had  no 
charms  for  the  Happy  Hexagons.  Of  so  little  con- 
sequence did  they  consider  it,  indeed,  that  at  last 
one  small  boy  quite  lost  his  patience, 

"  You  won't  fire  my  crackers,  you  won't  take  me 
to  the  picnic,  you  won't  play  ball,  you  won't  do  any- 
thing," he  complained  to  his  absorbed  sister.  "  I 
shall  be  just  glad  when  this  old  Texas  thing  is 
over!" 


44  SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER   IV 

ON    THE    WAY 

ALL  the  girls'  friends  came  to  see  them  off  at  the 
station  that  fifth  of  July. 

"  Mercy !  it  would  never  do  to  spring  our  Texas 
yell  to-day,"  chuckled  Tilly,  eyeing  the  assembled 
crowd ;  "  but  wouldn't  I  like  to,  though !  " 

"  There's  nothing  dead  about  Sunbridge  now, 
sure,"  laughed  Genevieve. 

"  I  should  say  not,"  declared  Harold  Day,  who 
had  begged  the  privilege  of  going  to  Boston  to  see 
them  aboard  their  train  for  Washington. 

"  For  you  see,"  he  had  argued,  "  it's  to  my  state, 
after  all,  that  you  are  going,  so  I  ought  to  be  allowed 
to  do  the  honors  at  this  end  of  the  trip  as  long  as 
I  can't  at  the  other !  " 

They  were  off  at  last,  Mrs.  Kennedy,  Mr.  Hart- 
ley, the  six  girls,  and  Harold.  But  what  a  scram- 
bling it  was,  and  what  a  confusion  of  chatter, 
laughter,  "  good-byes,"  and  "  write  soons  "  ! 

In  Boston  there  was  a  thirty-minute  wait  in  the 
South  Station  before  their  train  was  due  to  leave; 
but  long  before  the  thirty  minutes  were  over,  the 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  45 

usually  serene  face  of  Mrs.  Kennedy  began  to  look 
flushed  and  worried. 

"  Genevievc,  my  dear,"  she  expostulated  at  last, 
"  can't  you  keep  those  flutterbudget  girls  somewhere 
near  together?  It  will  be  time,  soon,  to  take  our 
train,  and  only  Cordelia  is  in  sight.  Not  even 
Harold  and  your  father  are  here I " 

Genevieve  laughed  soothingly. 

"I  know,  Aunt  Julia;  but  they'll  be  here,  I'm 
sure.  There-  s  still  lots  of  time,"  she  added,  glancing 
proudly  at  1  er  pretty  new  watch. 

"  But  where  are  they  all?  " 

"  Tilly  and  Elsie  have  gone  for  some  soda  water, 
and  Bertha  for  a  sandwich  at  the  lunch  counter. 
She  said  she  just  couldn't  eat  a  thing  before  she  left 
home.  Alma  Lane  has  gone  to  a  drug  store  across 
the  street.  I  don't  know  where  father  and  Harold 
are.  They  went  off  together,  and  —  oh,  here  they 
are !  "  she  broke  off  in  relief,  as  the  two  wanderers 
appeared. 

"  And  now,"  summoned  Mr.  Hartley,  "  we'll  be 
off  to  our  car !  Why,  where  are  the  rest  of  us  ?  " 

"Well,  they  — they  aren't  all  here,"  frowned 
Genevieve,  a  little  anxiously. 

As  at  Sunbridge,  it  was  a  rush  and  a  scramble  at 
the  last.  Tilly,  Elsie,  and  Bertha  came  back,  but 
Genevieve  went  to  look  for  Alma  Lane;  and  when 
Alma  returned  without  having  seen  Genevieve, 
Harold  had  to  run  post-haste  for  her. 


46  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Sure,  dearie,"  said  Mr.  Hartley  to  his 
daughter,  laughingly,  when  at  last  he  had  his 
charges  all  in  the  car,  "  this  is  a  little  worse  than 
trying  to  corral  a  bunch  of  bronchos !  " 

"  Oh,  but  we  won't  be  so  bad  again,"  promised 
the  girl,  waving  her  hand  to  Harold,  who  stood 
alone  outside  the  window,  watching  them  a  little 
wistfully. 

They  had  a  merry  time  getting  settled,  and  more 
than  one  tired  countenance  in  the  car  brightened  at 
sight  of  the  six  eager  young  faces. 

"  I  couldn't  get  all  five  sections  together," 
frowned  Mr.  Hartley.  "  I  got  three  here,  but  the 
other  two  are  down  near  the  end  of  the  car  —  you 
know  the  porter  showed  you.  Do  you  think  we  can 
make  them  go,  some  way?"  he  questioned  Mrs. 
Kennedy,  anxiously.  "  I  planned  for  you  to  have 
one  of  the  sections  down  there  by  yourself,  perhaps, 
with  two  of  the  young  ladies  in  the  other.  Will 
that  do?" 

"  Of  course  it  will  —  and  finely,  too,"  declared 
the  lady.  "  Genevieve,  you  and  I  will  go  down 
there  and  take  one  of  the  girls  with  us  —  perhaps 
Bertha.  That  will  leave  your  father  for  one  up 
here,  Elsie  and  Alma  for  another,  and  Tilly  and 
Cordelia  for  the  third." 

"  I  knew  she'd  put  you  with  Cordelia,"  chuckled 
Bertha  to  Tilly,  under  cover  of  their  scramble  to 
pick  out  their  suit-cases  from  the  pile  in  which  the 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  47 

porter  had  left  them.  "  And  I'm  sure  you  ought  to 
be,"  she  laughed.  "  There'll  be  some  hopes  then 
that  you'll  be  kept  in  order!  " 

"  Just  look  to  yourself,"  retorted  Tilly,  serenely. 
"  Mrs.  Kennedy  put  you  down  there  near  her  — 
remember  that !  " 

"  I  declare,  I  felt  just  like  an  orange,"  giggled 
Elsie,  "  with  all  that  talk  about  '  sections.'  " 

"  I  don't  see  where  the  shelves  are,"  whispered 
Cordelia,  craning  her  short  little  neck  to  its  full 
extent. 

"You'll  see  them  all  right,"  promised  Tilly. 
"  Just  wait  till  it's  dark,  then  — '  The  goblins'll  get 
ye  if  ye  don't  wratch  out ! '  "  she  quoted,  with  mock 
impressiveness. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  were  ten  years  old,  and  playing 
house,"  chirped  Alma  Lane,  as  she  happily  frowned 
over  just  the  proper  place  for  her  bag. 

"  I  feel  as  if  it  were  all  a  dream,  and  that  I  shall 
wake  up  right  at  home,"  breathed  Cordelia. 
"  Seems  as  if  it  just  couldn't  be  true  —  that  we're 
really  going  to  Texas!  Oh,  Genevieve,  we  can't 
ever  thank  you  and  your  father  enough,"  she  fin- 
ished, as  Genevieve  came  up  the  aisle. 

"As  if  we  wanted  thanks,  after  what  you've  done 
for  me !  "  cried  Genevieve.  "  Besides,  you  girls 
can't  be  half  so  glad  to  go  as  I  am  to  have  you !  " 

Some  time  later  the  porter  began  to  make  up  the 
berths. 


48  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Tilly  nudged  Cordelia  violently. 

''  There's  shelf  number  one,  Cordy.  How  do 
you  think  you'll  like  it?  "  she  asked. 

Cordelia  was  too  absorbed  even  to  notice  the 
hated  "  Cordy."  With  wide-eyed,  breathless  in- 
terest she  was  watching  the  porter. 

"  I  think  —  it's  the  most  wonderful  thing  —  I 
ever  saw,"  she  breathed  in  an  awe-struck  voice. 

It  was  after  the  car  was  quiet  that  night  that 
Genevieve,  in  her  upper  berth,  pulled  apart  the 
heavy  curtains  and  peeped  out  into  the  long  narrow 
aisle  between  the  swaying  draperies. 

The  train  was  moving  very  rapidly.  The  air  was 
heavy  and  close.  The  night  was  an  uncomfortably 
warm  one.  Genevieve  had  been  too  excited  to  sleep. 
Even  yet  it  did  not  seem  quite  real  —  that  the  Happy 
Hexagons  were  all  there  with  her,  and  that  they 
were  going  to  her  far-away  Texas  home. 

With  a  sigh  the  girl  fell  back  on  her  pillow,  and 
tried  to  coax  sleep  to  come  to  her.  But  sleep  re- 
fused to  come.  Instead,  the  whole  panorama  of  her 
Eastern  winter  unrolled  itself  before  her,  peopled 
with  little  fairy  sprites,  who  danced  with  twinkling 
feet  and  smiled  at  her  mockingly. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  know  you/'  murmured  Genevieve, 
drowsily.  "  I  know  you  all.  You  —  you  little  black 
one  —  you're  the  cake  I  forgot  in  the  oven,  and  let 
burn  up.  And  you're  the  lessons  I  didn't  learn  — 
there  are  heaps  of  you!  And  you  —  you're  those 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  49 

horrid  scales  I  never  could  catch  up  with.  My,  how 
you  run  now!  And  you  —  you  little  shamed  one 
over  in  the  corner  —  you're  the  prank  I  played  on 
Miss  Jane.  .  .  .  Oh,  you  can  dance  now  —  but  you 
•won't,  by  and  by  I  Next  year  there  won't  be  any  of 
you  —  not  a  one  left.  I'm  going  to  be  so  good,  so 
awfully  good ;  and  I'm  not  going  to  ever  forget,  of 
to  cause  anybody  any  trouble,  or  - 

With  a  start  Genevieve  sat  erect  in  her  berth,  fully 
awake. 

"  Mercy!  What  a  jounce  that  was!  "  she  cried, 
just  above  her  breath.  "  But  we  seem  to  be  going 
all  right  now." 

Cautiously  she  parted  her  curtains  and  peeped 
out  again.  The  next  instant  she  almost  gave  a  little 
shriek:  she  was  looking  straight  into  Bertha 
Brown's  upraised,  startled  eyes,  just  below  her. 

"  Was  that  an  accident?  "  chattered  Bertha.  "  I 
told  you  there'd  be  one !  I'm  all  dressed,  anyhow  — 
if 'tis!" 

"  Sh-h !    No,  goosey,"  chuckled  Genevieve. 

She  would  have  said  more  but,  at  that  moment, 
from  up  the  aisle  sounded  a  sibilant  "  S-s-s-s !  " 
They  turned  to  see  a  somewhat  untidy  fluff  of  red 
hair  above  a  laughing,  piquant  face. 

"It's  Tilly!  'She's  motioning  to  us.  Say,  let's 
go,"  whispered  Genevieve.  And  cautiously  she  be- 
gan to  let  herself  down  from  her  perch. 

The  next  moment  Bertha,   fully   dressed,   and 


50  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Genevieve  in  her  long,  dark  blue  kimono,  were  trip- 
ping softly;  up  the  aisle. 

"  Why,  you're  both  down  here,"  exulted  Gene- 
vieve, as  she  climbed  into  the  lower  berth. 

"Yes;  Cordelia  was  afraid,"  giggled  Tilly,  "so 
I  came  down." 

''  Tilly !  —  I  was  not,"  disputed  Cordelia,  in  an 
indignant  whisper.  "  You  came  of  your  own  ac- 
cord." 

"  Pooh !  Tilly's  fooling,  and  we  know  it/' 
soothed  Bertha,  climbing  into  the  berth  after  Gene- 
vieve. 

{( Why,  Bertha  Brown,  you've  got  your  shoes 
on !  "  gasped  Tilly,  forgetting  to  whisper. 

"  Of  course  I  have,"  retorted  Bertha.  "  Do  you 
suppose  —  sh !  " 

There  was  a  tug  at  the  curtains,  and  Elsie  Mar- 
tin's round,  good-natured  face  peered  in. 

"Well,  I  like  this,"  she  bridled.  "A  special 
meeting  of  the  Hexagon  Club,  and  me  not  notified ! 
I  heard  Genevieve  and  Bertha  giggling  in  the  aisle. 
Are  you  all  here?  " 

"  All  but  Alma,"  rejoined  Tilly,  in  an  exultant 
whisper.  "  Say,  get  her,  too!  " 

"  Well,  now,  if  this  isn't  just  a  lark,"  crowed 
Bertha,  gleefully,  when  the  last  of  the  six  girls  had 
crowded  themselves  into  the  narrow  berth. 

"  Ouch !  my  head,"  groaned  Genevieve,  as  a  soft 
thud  threw  the  other  girls  into  stifled  laughter. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  51 

"  Pooh !  I've  been  hitting  my  head  against  the 
up-stairs  flat  ever  since  I  went  to  bed,"  quoth  Elsie. 
"  Isn't  it  fun !  Now  let's  talk." 

"What  about?" 

"  Texas,  of  course,"  cut  in  Tilly.  "  Girls,  girls, 
wouldn't  it  be  glorious  to  give  our  Texas  yell, 
though,  and  see  what  happened !  " 

"  Tilly !  "  gasped  the  shocked  Cordelia. 

"  Oh,  I  wasn't  going  to,  of  course,"  chuckled 
Tilly,  softly.  "  I  was  just  imaginin',  you  know." 

"  But  even  this  —  I'm  not  sure  we  ought  —  "  be- 
gan Cordelia. 

"No,  of  course  not;  you  never  are,  Cordy," 
agreed  Tilly,  smoothly. 

"  But  let's  talk  Texas  —  we  can  whisper,  you 
know.  Tell  us  about  Texas,  Genevieve,"  cut  in 
pacifier  Alma,  hurriedly.  "  What's  it  like  —  the 
ranch?" 

Genevieve  drew  a  happy  sigh. 

"  Why,  it's  like  —  it's  like  nothing  in  Texas,  we 
think,"  she  breathed.  "  Of  course  we  don't  think 
any  other  ranch  could  come  up  to  the  Six  Star !  " 

Tilly  gave  a  sudden  cry. 

"The  what?" 

"  The  Six  Star  —  our  ranch,  you  know." 

"  You  mean  it's  named  the  '  Six  Star  Ranch  '  ?  " 
demanded  Tilly. 

"  Sure!  Didn't  I  ever  tell  you?  "  retorted  Gene- 
vieve in  plain  surprise. 


52  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Tilly  clapped  her  hands  softly. 

"  Did  you !  Well,  I  should  say  not !  You've  al- 
ways called  it  just  '  the  ranch.'  And  now  —  why, 
girls,  don't  you  see  ?  —  it's  our  ranch.  It  couldn't 
have  had  a  better  name  if  we'd  had  it  built  to  order. 
It's  the  Six  Star  Ranch  —  and  we're  the  six  star 
girls  —  the  Happy  Hexagons.  And  to  think  we 
never  knew  it  before !  " 

There  was  a  chorus  of  half-stifled  exclama- 
tions of  delight;  then  Cordelia  demanded  anx- 
iously : 

"  But,  Genevieve,  will  they  be  glad  to  see  us, 
really  —  all  your  people  out  there?  " 

"  Glad !  I  reckon  they  will  be/'  averred  Gene- 
vieve, warmly.  "  The  boys  will  give  us  a  rousing 
welcome,  and  there  won't  be  anything  too  good  for 
Mr.  Tim  and  Mammy  Lindy  to  do." 

"Who  are  they?"  asked  Tilly. 

"  Mr.  Tim  is  the  ranch  foreman,  '  the  boss,'  the 
boys  call  him.  He's  been  with  us  ever  since  I  can 
remember,  and  he's  so  good  to  me !  Mammy  Lindy 
is  —  well,  Mammy  Lindy  is  a  dear !  You'll  love 
Ol'  Mammy.  She's  been  just  a  mother  to  me  ever 
since  my  own  mother  died  eight  years  ago."  Gene- 
vieve's  voice  faltered  a  little,  then  went  on  more 
firmly.  "  She's  a  negro  woman,  you  know.  Her 
people  were  slaves,  once." 

"  And  —  the  —  boys  ?  "  asked  Cordelia,  dubi- 
ously. "  Are  they  your  —  brothers,  Genevieve  ?  " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  53 

Genevieve  laughed  —  a  little  more  loudly  than 
perhaps  she  realized. 

"  Brothers !  —  well,  hardly !  The  boys  are  the 
cowboys  —  on  the  ranch,  you  know.  My,  but  they'll 
give  us  a  welcome!  I  reckon  they'll  ride  into  town 
to  give  it,  too,  in  all  their  war  paint.  Just  you  wait 
till  you  see  the  boys  —  and  hear  them !  "  And  Gene- 
vieve laughed  again. 

All  in  the  dark  Cordelia  looked  distinctly  shocked  ; 
but,  being  in  the  dark,  nobody  noticed  it. 

"  Well,  I  for  one  just  can't  wait,"  began  Tilly, 
hugging  herself  with  her  arms 'about  her  knees. 
"  Only  think,  it'll  be  whole  days  now  before  we  get 
there,  and  —  " 

"  Young  ladies !  " 

Tilly  stopped  with  a  little  cry  of  dismay.  A  man's 
voice  had  spoken  close  to  her  ear. 

"  Young  ladies,"  came  the  mellow  tones  again.  "  I 
begs  yo'  pardon,  but  de  lady  what  belongs  down  in 
number  ten  says  maybe  you  done  forgot  dat  dis  am 
a  sleepin'  car." 

"  Aunt  Julia !  "  breathed  Genevieve.  "  She's 
number  ten." 

"  She  sent  the  porter,"  gasped  Cordelia.  "  How 
• —  how  awful !  —  and  you're  in  my  house,  too,"  she 
almost  sobbed. 

"  Now  I  know  we're  playing  house,"  tittered 
Alma  Lane,  hysterically,  as  she  followed  Genevieve 
out  of  the  berth. 


54  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Once  more  in  her  own  quarters,  Genevieve  lay 
back  on  her  pillow  with  a  remorseful  sigh. 

"  I  don't  see  why  it's  so  much  easier  to  say  you'll 
never  give  anybody  any  trouble  than  'tis  to  do  it," 
she  lamented,  as  she  turned  over  with  a  jerk. 

The  girls  began  the  "  Chronicles  of  the  Hexagon 
Club  "  the  next  morning.  Genevieve  made  the  first 
entry.  She  dwelt  at  some  length  on  the  confusion 
of  the  train-taking,  both  at  Sunbridge  and  Boston. 
She  also  had  something  to  say  of  Tilly  Mack.  She 
gave  a  full  account,  too,  of  the  midnight  session 
of  the  Hexagon  Club  in  Cordelia's  berth. 

"  And  I'm  ashamed  that  Aunt  Julia  had  to  be 
ashamed  of  me  so  soon,"  she  wrote  contritely. 

Cordelia  Wilson  had  agreed  to  make  the  second 
entry  in  the  book;  but  the  heat,  the  loss  of  sleep, 
and  the  strangeness  and  excitement  added  to  her 
distress  that  "  her  house  "  should  have  been  made 
to  seem  a  disgrace  in  the  eyes  of  the  whole  car,  all 
conspired  to  make  her  feel  so  ill  that  she  de- 
clared she  could  not  think  of  writing  for  a  day  or 
two. 

"  Very  well,  then,  you  sha'n't  write ;  we'll  hand 
the  book  to  Tilly,"  said  Genevieve,  "  and  then  we'll 
give  it  to  some  of  the  others.  But  I'll  tell  you  what 
we  will  do,  Cordelia;  you  shall  make  the  last  entry 
in  the  book  just  before  we  leave  the  train  at  Bolo. 
And  you  can  make  it  a  sort  of  retrospect  —  a  're- 
view lesson  '  of  the  whole,  you  know." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  55 

"  But  I  thought  the  others  —  won't  they  each 
tell  their  day?" 

"  That's  just  what  they'll  tell  —  their  day,"  re- 
torted Genevieve,  whimsically.  '  You  know  what 
most  of  them  are.  Alma  Lane  would  be  all  right, 
and  would  give  a  true  description  of  everything; 
only  she  would  go  into  particulars  so,  that  she  would 
tell  everything  she  saw  from  the  windows,  and  just 
what  she  had  to  eat  all  day,  down  to  the  last 
olive." 

"  I  know,"  nodded  Cordelia,  with  a  faint  smile. 

"  As  for  Tilly  —  you  can't  get  real  sense,  of 
course,  from  her  part.  If  there's  any  nonsense  go- 
ing, Tilly  Mack  will  find  it  and  trot  it  out.  Bertha 
Brown  will  take  up  the  most  of  her  space  by  saying 
'  I  always  said  that  — '  etc.,  etc.  Bertha  is  a  dear 
—  but  you  know  she  does  just  love  to  say  '  I  told 
you  so.'  Elsie  will  write  clothes,  of  course.  We 
shall  find  out  what  everybody  has  on  when  Elsie 
writes." 

Cordelia  laughed  aloud  —  then  clapped  her  hand 
to  her  aching  head. 

"You  poor  dear!  What  a  shame,"  sympathized 
Genevieve.  "  But,  Cordelia,  why  does  Elsie  think 
so  much  of  clothes?  Mercy!  for  my  part  I  think 
they're  the  most  tiresome  sort  of  things  to  bother 
with;  and  it's  such  a  waste  of  time  to  be  having 
to  change  your  dress  always ! " 

Cordelia  smiled;   then  her  face  sobered. 


56  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Poor  Elsie !  I'm  sorry  for  Elsie.  She  does 
have  such  an  unhappy  time  over  clothes." 

"  Why  ?  How  ?  —  or  isn't  it  fair  to  tell  ?  "  added 
Genevieve,  with  quick  loyalty. 

"  Oh,  yes,  it's  fair.  Everybody  knows  it,  'most, 
and  I  supposed  you  did.  Elsie  herself  tells  of  it. 
You  know  she  lives  with  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Gale. 
Well,  Mrs.  Gale  has  three  daughters,  Fannie,  about 
twenty-one,  I  guess,  and  the  twins,  nineteen;  and 
she  just  loves  to  make  over  their  things  for  Elsie  — 
so  she  does  it." 

"  Are  they  so  very  —  poor,  then  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no ;  they  aren't  poor  at  all.  I  don't  think 
she  really  has  to  do  it.  Aunt  Mary  says  she's  just 
naturally  thrifty,  and  that  she  loves  to  make  them 
over.  But  you  see,  poor  Elsie  almost  never  has 
a  new  dress  — of  new  material,  I  mean.  Now 
Elsie  loves  red;  but  Fannie  wears  blue  a  lot, 
and  the  twins  like  queer  shades  like  faded-out 
greens  and  browns  which  Elsie  abhors.  Poor 
Elsie  —  no  wonder  she's  always  looking  at 
clothes !  " 

"  Hm-m ;  no  wonder,"  nodded  Genevieve,  her 
pitying  eyes  on  Elsie  far  down  the  aisle  —  Elsie, 
who,  in  a  mustard-colored  striped  skirt  and  pongee 
blouse,  was  at  that  moment  trying  to  perk  up  the 
loppy  blue  bows  on  a  somewhat  faded  tan  straw 
hat.  "  Well,  anyhow,"  added  Genevieve,  with  a 
sigh,  "  just  remember,  Cordelia,  that  you're  to  do 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  57 

the  last  day  of  the  trip  in  the  Chronicles.     Now  lie 
down  and  give  your  poor  head  a  rest." 

Long  before  the  last  day  of  the  journey  came, 
Cordelia  had  quite  recovered  from  her  headache; 
but,  in  accordance  with  Genevieve's  plan,  she  did 
not  add  her  share  to  the  Chronicles  until  the  ap- 
pointed time.  Then,  with  almost  a  reverent  air, 
she  accepted  the  book  and  pen  from  Genevieve's 
hands,  and  returned  to  the  seclusion  of  her  seat, 
rejoicing  that  Tilly  was  playing  checkers  with 
Bertha,  and  so  would  not,  presumably,  disturb  her 
—  for  a  time,  at  least. 

"  To-day,  at  noon,  wre  are  to  arrive  at  Bolo,"  she 
wrote  a  little  unevenly;  then  with  a  firmer  hand 
she  went  on.  "  Genevieve  says  this  ought  to  be  a 
retrospect,  and  touch  lightly  upon  the  whole  trip; 
so  I  will  try  to  make  it  so. 

"  It  has  been  a  beautiful  journey.  Nothing  seri- 
ous has  happened,  though  Bertha  has  worn  her  shoes 
all  the  time  expecting  it.  The  best  thing,  so  far, 
was  our  lovely  day  in  Washington  that  Mr.  Hartley 
gave  us,  and  the  President.  (I  mean,  we  saw  him 
and  he  smiled.)  And  the  worst  thing  (except  that 
first  night  in  my  berth  that  Genevieve  wrote  of) 
was  the  time  we  lost  Tilly  for  three  whole  hours, 
and  Mrs.  Kennedy  got  so  nervous  and  white  and 
frightened.  We  supposed,  of  course,  she  had  fallen 
off,  or  jumped  off,  or  got  left  off  at  some  station. 


58  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

But  just  as  we  were  talking  with  the  porter  about 
telegraphing  everywhere,  she  danced  in  with  two 
very  untidy,  unclean  little  Armenian  children.  It 
seems  she  had  been  in  the  emigrant  car  all  the  time 
playing  with  the  children  and  trying  to  make  the 
men  and  women  talk  their  queer  English.  I  never 
knew  that  gentle  Mrs.  Kennedy  could  speak  so 
sharply  as  she  did  then  to  Tilly. 

"  And  now  —  since  Tuesday,  some  time  —  we 
have  regally  been  in  Texas.  Some  things  look  just 
like  Eastern  things,  but  others  are  so  strange  and 
queer.  It  is  very  hot  —  I  mean,  very  warm,  too. 
But  then,  we  have  just  as  warm  days  in  Sunbridge, 
I  guess.  The  windmills  look  so  queer  —  there  are 
such  a  lot  of  them ;  but  they  look  pretty,  too.  Some 
of  the  towns  are  very  pretty,  also,  with  their  red 
roofs  and  blue  barns  and  houses.  Genevieve  says 
lots  of  them  are  German  villages. 

"  In  some  places  lots  of  things  are  growing,  but 
in  others  it  is  all  just  gray  and  bare-looking  with 
nothing  much  growing  except  those  queer  prairie- 
dog  cities  with  the  funny  little  creatures  sitting  on 
top  of  their  houses,  or  popping  down  into  their 
holes  only  to  turn  around  and  look  at  you  out  of 
their  bright  little  eyes.  We  had  a  splendid  chance 
to  see  them  once  when  our  train  stopped  right  in 
the  middle  of  a  prairie  for  a  long  time.  We  got  of! 
and  walked  quite  a  way  with  Mr.  Hartley.  I  saw 
a  rattlesnake,  and  I'm  afraid  I  screamed.  I 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  59 

screamed  again  when  the  horrid  thing  wiggled  into 
one  of  the  dog  houses.  Mr.  Hartley  says  they  live 
together  sometimes,  but  if  I  were  that  dog  he 
wouldn't  live  with  me! 

"  We  have  seen  lots  of  cattle  and  goats  and  hogs 
—  though  Tilly  says  she  hasn't  seen  any  of  the 
latter  under  any  gate  yet.  I  have  seen  a  mesquite 
1  tree  (so  I  have  done  one  of  my  things),  and  it  does 
have  thorns.  We  are  on  another  prairie  now,  and 
oh,  how  big  it  is,  and  such  a  lot  of  grass  as  there 
is  on  it  —  just  as  far  as  you  can  see,  grass,  grass, 
grass !  I  guess  there  won't  be  any  danger  of  my  not 
having  plenty  of  that  to  take  home.  I  have  seen 
lots  of  men  on  horseback,  but  I  don't  know  whether 
they  were  cowboys  or  not.  They  did  not  shoot,  any- 
way, but  some  of  them  did  yell. 

"  Gene  vie  ve  says  cowboys  are  to  meet  us,  and 
that  probably  they  will  come  away  to  Bolo  in  full 
war  paint.  I  thought  it  was  only  Indians  who 
painted  —  except  silly  ladies,  of  course  —  and  I  was 
going  to  say  so;  but  Tilly  was  there,  so  I  didn't 
like  to.  Of  course  I  ought  not  to  mind  the  cow- 
boys —  if  Genevieve  likes  them,  and  they  are  her 
friends;  but  I  can't  help  remembering  what  Mrs. 
Miller  told  me  about  their  '  shooting  up  towns '  in 
a  very  dreadful  way  when  they  were  angry.  I  hope 
none  of  the  men  I  want  to  find  will  turn  out  to  be 
cowboys."  (Here  there  were  signs  of  an  attempted 
erasure,  but  the  words  still  stood,  and  immediately 


60  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

after  them  came  another  sentence. )  "  That  is,  I 
mean  I  should  hate  to  find  that  any  friends  of  mine 
had  become  cowboys. 

"  I  have  just  been  reading  over  what  I  have  writ- 
ten, and  I  am  disappointed  in  it.  I  am  sure  I  ought 
to  have  mentioned  a  great  many  things  about  which 
I  have  been  silent.  But  there  were  so  many  things, 
and  they  all  crowded  at  once  before  me,  so  that  I 
had  to  just  touch  on  the  big  things  and  the  tall 
things  —  like  windmills,  for  instance. 

"  We  are  getting  nearer  Bolo  now,  and  I  must 
stop  and  eat  some  luncheon,  Genevieve  says,  as  we 
sha'n't  have  anything  else  till  supper  on  the  ranch. 
Oh,  I  am  so  excited!  Seems  as  if  I  couldn't  draw 
a  breath  deep  enough.  And  the  idea  of  trying  to 
eat  when  I  feel  like  this ! " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  61 


CHAPTER   V 

THE   BOYS    PREPARE   A    WELCOME 

ON  the  back  gallery  of  the  long,  low  ranch  house, 
the  boys  were  waiting  for  Teresa  to  ring  the  bell 
for  supper.  Comfortably  they  lolled  about  on  ham- 
mocks, chairs,  and  steps,  with  their  shirts  open  at 
the  neck  and  plentifully  powdered  with  the  dust  of 
the  corral. 

From  the  doorway,  Tim  Nolan,  the  ranch  fore- 
man, spoke  to  them  hurriedly. 

"  See  here,  boys,  I'm  right  sorry,  but  I've  got  to 
see  Benson  to-morrow  about  those  steers.  That 
means  that  I've  got  to  go  as  far  as  Bolo  to-night, 
and  that  I  sha'n't  be  back  in  time  to  start  with  the 
rest  of  you  to  meet  the  folks.  But  I'll  see  you  in 
Bolo  day  after  to-morrow  at  noon.  The  train  is 
due  then.  Now  be  on  hand,  all  of  you  that  can. 
We  want  Miss  Genevieve  and  her  friends  to  have  a 
right  royal  welcome.  I  reckon  now  I'd  better  be 
off.  So  long!  Now  remember  —  day  after  to- 
morrow at  noon !  "  he  finished,  turning  away. 

"  As  if  we'd  be  a-forgettin'  it,"  grinned  Long 
John,  a  tall,  lank  fellow  sprawled  in  a  hammock, 


62  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  when  the  little  mistress  hain't  set  her  pretty  foot 
on  the  place  since  last  August !  " 

"  If  only  she  wa'n't  bringin'  all  them  others," 
groaned  the  short,  sandy-haired  man  on  the  steps. 
"  I'd  just  like  to  rope  the  whole  bunch  and  send  'em 
back  East  again,  old  lady  and  all  —  all  but  the  little 
mistress,  of  course.  Boys,  what  are  we  a-goin'  to 
do  with  an  old  lady  —  even  though  she  ain't  so 
awful  old  —  and  five  torn-fool  girls  on  the  Six  Star 
Ranch?" 

"  Ees  not  the  Senorita  a  gurrl,  also  ?  "  laughed  a 
dark-eyed  Mexican  from  his  perch  on  the  gallery 
railing.  "Eh,  Reddy?" 

"  Sure,  Pedro,"  retorted  the  sandy-haired  man, 
testily.  (Pedro  was  the  only  Mexican  cowboy  at 
the  ranch,  and  even  he  was  barely  tolerated.)  "  But 
the  little  mistress  ain't  no  tenderfoot  girl.  She  don't 
howl  at  a  rattlesnake  nor  jump  at  a  prairie  dog; 
and  she  knows  how  to  ride,  and  which  end  of  a  gun 
goes  off!" 

There  was  a  general  laugh,  followed  by  a  long 
silence  —  the  boys  did  not  usually  talk  so  much  to- 
gether, but  to-night  a  curious  restlessness  pervaded 
them  all.  Suddenly  the  tall  man  in  the  hammock 
pulled  himself  erect. 

"  Look  a-here,  boys,  that's  jest  it,"  he  began  in  a 
worried  voice.  "  What  if  the  little  mistress  has 
changed?  What  if  she  hain't  no  use  for  us  and  the 
ranch  any  more?  I  never  told  ye,  but  at  the  first, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


last  August,  'fore  she  went  away,  I  heard  the  boss 
and  Mr.  Hartley  a-talkin'.  They  was  sayin'  she'd 
got  to  go  East  to  learn  'how  to  live  like  a  lady 
should  —  to  know  girls,  and  books,  and  all  that. 
They  said  she  was  runnin'  wild  here  with  only  us 
for  playmates,  and  that  they  had  just  got  ter  pas- 
ture her  out  where  the  grass  was  finer,  and  the 
fences  nearer  tergether." 

"  Did  they  say  —  that  ?  "  gasped  half  a  dozen 
worried  voices. 

"  They  sure  did  —  and  more.  They  said  two 
real  ladies  was  a-goin'  ter  take  her  and  make  her 
like  themselves  —  a  lady.  And,  boys,  I  was  won- 
derin'  —  how  is  a  lady  goin'  ter  like  us,  and  the 
ranch?" 

There  was  a  moment's  tense  silence.  The  boys 
were  staring,  wide-eyed  and  appalled,  into  each 
other's  faces. 

From  somewhere  came  a  deep  sigh. 

"Gorry!  —  she  can't,  she  just  can't,  after  all 
her  book-learnin'  and  culturin'/'  groaned  a  new 
voice. 

For  a  time  no  one  spoke ;  then  Reddy  cleared  his 
throat. 

"  Look  a-here,  there  ain't  but  jest  one  thing  to 
do.  If  she  don't  like  the  ranch  —  and  us  —  we'll 
jest  have  to  make  the  ranch  —  and  us  —  so  she  will 
like  'em." 

"  How?  "  demanded  a  skeptical  chorus. 


64  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Slick  'em  up  —  and  us,"  retorted  the  sandy- 
haired  man,  with  finality.  "  I  was  raised  East,  and 
I  know  the  sort  of  doin's  they  hanker  after.  To- 
morrow mornin'  we'll  begin.  I'll  show  you;  you'll 
see,"  he  finished  in  a  louder  tone,  as  Teresa's  clang- 
ing supper  bell  sent  them  in  a  stampede  through 
the  long  covered  way  that  led  to  the  dining-room 
which,  with  the  cook  room,  occupied  the  large,  low 
building  thirty  feet  to  the  rear  of  the  ranch  house. 

When  Tim  Nolan  arrived  at  the  Bolo  station  a 
little  before  noon  two  days  later,  he  stared  in  open- 
mouthed  wonder  at  the  sight  that  greeted  his  eyes. 
In  a  wavering,  straggling  line  stood  ten  stiff,  red- 
faced,  miserable  men,  dressed  in  what  was,  to  Tim 
Nolan,  the  strangest  assortment  of  garments  he  had 
ever  seen. 

Two  of  the  men  were  in  dead  black,  from  head 
to  foot.  Four  wore  stiff,  not  over-clean  white  shirts. 
Six  sported  flaming  red  neckties.  One  had  un- 
earthed from  somewhere  a  frock  coat  three  sizes 
too  small  for  him,  which  he  wore  very  proudly, 
however,  over  a  flannel  shirt  adorned  with  a  red- 
and-green  silk  handkerchief  knotted  at  the  throat. 
Another  displayed  a  somewhat  battered  silk  hat. 
But,  whatever  they  wore,  each  showed  a  face  upon 
which  hope,  despair,  pride,  shame,  and  physical 
misery  were  curiously  blended. 

For  an  instant  Tim  Nolan  peered  at  them  with 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  65 

unrecognizing  eyes;  then  he  gave  a  low  ejacula- 
tion. 

"  Reddy !  Carlos !  Jim !  Boys !  "  he  gasped. 
"What  in  the  world  is  the  meaning  of  this?" 

"  Eet  ees  that  we  welcome  the  little  Senorita  an' 
her  frien's,"  bowed  Pedro,  doffing  his  sombrero 
which  was  the  only  part  of  his  usual  costume  that 
he  had  retained. 

"  But  —  I  don't  understand,"  demurred  the  fore- 
man ;  "  these  rigs  of  yours !  Reddy,  where  in  time 
did  you  corral  that  coat  ?  " 

Reddy  shifted  from  one  uneasy  foot  to  the  other. 

"  Pedro's  told  you  —  we're  here  to  welcome  the 
little  mistress,  of  course.  We've  slicked  up.  We  — 
we  didn't  want  the  shock  too  sudden  —  from  the 
East,  you  know." 

For  another  moment  Tim  Nolan  stared;  then 
he  threw  back  his  head  and  laughed  —  laughed  till 
the  faces  of  the  men  before  him  grew  red  with 
something  more  than  discomfort. 

At  that  moment  a  pretty  young  girl  in  khaki  and 
a  cowboy  hat  made  her  appearance  astride  a  frisky 
little  mustang.  She  wore  a  cartridge  belt  about  her 
waist  —  though  there  was  no  revolver  in  her  holster. 

"Is  Genevieve  coming  to-day,  sure?"  she  called 
out  joyfully.  "  I  heard  she  was,  and  I've  come  to 
meet  her." 

"  There,  boys,"  bantered  the  ranch  foreman, 
"  now  here's  a  young  lady  who  knows  how  to  wel- 


66  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

come  the  mistress  of  the  Six  Star  Ranch !  "  Then, 
to  the  girl :  "  Sure,  Miss  Susie,  we  do  expect  Gene- 
vieve,  and  we're  here  to  welcome  her,  as  you  see," 
he  finished  with  a  sweep  of  his  broad-brimmed 
hat. 

It  looked,  for  a  moment,  as  if  the  wavering,  strag- 
gling men  would  break  ranks  and  run;  but  a  sud- 
den distant  whistle,  and  a  sharp  command  from 
Reddy  brought  them  right  about  face. 

"  Buck  up,  boys,"  he  ordered  sharply.  "  I  reckon 
the  little  mistress  ain't  a-goin'  ter  turn  us  down! 
She'll  like  it.  You'll  see!" 

The  train  had  scarcely  come  to  a  stop  before 
Genevieve  _was  off  the  car  steps. 

"  Mr.  Tim,  Mr.  Tim  —  here  I  am !  Oh,  how 
good  you  look !  "  she  cried,  holding  out  both  her 
hands.  A  minute  later  she  turned  to  introduce  the 
embarrassed  foreman  to  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  the  girls, 
who,  with  her  father,  were  following  close  at  her 
heels.  This  task  was  not  half  completed,  however, 
when  she  spied  the  red-faced,  anxious-eyed  men. 

As  Mr.  Tim  had  done,  she  stared  dumbly  for  a 
moment;  then,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  introductions 
to  her  father,  she  ran  toward  them. 

"  Why,  it's  the  boys  —  our  boys !  Carlos,  Long 
John,  Reddy !  But  what  is  the  matter  ?  How  queer 
you  look!  Is  anybody  sick  —  or — >dead?"  she 
stammered,  plainly  in  doubt  what  to  say. 

"  Sure,  it's  for  you  —  we're  a-welcomin'  you," 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  67 

exploded  Long  John,  jerking  at  his  collar  which  was 
obviously  too  small  for  him. 

Genevieve's  face  showed  a  puzzled  frown. 

"  But  these  clothes !  —  why  are  you  like  this  ?  — 
and  after  all  I've  promised  the  girls  about  you,  too !  " 

"  You  mean  —  you  don't  like  it  —  this  ?  "  de- 
manded Reddy,  incredulous  hope  in  his  eyes  and 
voice. 

"  Of  course  I  don't  like  it!  I've  been  promising 
the  girls  all  the  way  here  that  you'd  give  them  a 
welcome  that  was  a  welcome !  And  now  —  but  why 
did  you  do  it,  boys  ?  " 

Long  John  drew  himself  to  his  full  height. 

"Why?  'Cause  Reddy  said  to,"  he  answered. 
"  Reddy  said  we'd  better  ease  up  on  the  shock  it 
would  be  to  you  —  here,  after  all  you'd  been  used 
to  back  East  —  fine  clothes,  fine  feed,  and  fine  doin's 
all  around,  to  say  nothin'  of  books  and  learnin'  in 
between  times;  so  we  —  we  tried  to  break  ye  in 
easy.  That's  all,"  he  finished,  a  little  lamely. 

"  And  then  these  clothes  mean  —  that?"  de- 
manded the  girl. 

Long  John  nodded  dumbly. 

Genevieve  gave  a  ringing  laugh,  but  her  eyes 
grew  soft  as  she  extended  her  hand  to  each  man  in 
turn. 

"  What  old  dears  you  are  —  every  one  of  you !  " 
she  exclaimed.  "  Now  go  home  quick,  and  get 
comfortable."  She  would  have  said  more,  but  some 


68  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

one  called  her  and  she  turned  abruptly.  Cordelia 
Wilson,  looking  half  frightened,  half  exultant,  but 
wholly  excited,  was  pulling  at  her  sleeve. 

"  Genevieve,  Genevieve,  quick,"  she  was  panting; 
"  is  that  a  cowboy  —  that,  over  there  —  talking  to,* 
your  father  ?  "  ; 

Genevieve  turned  with  a  wondering  frown.  The 
next  moment  she  burst  into  a  merry  laugh. 

"  Oh,  Cordelia,  Cordelia,  you  will  be  the  death  of 
me,  yet!  No,  that  isn't  a  cowboy.  It's  Susie  Bill- 
ings. She  lives  on  a  ranch  near  here." 

"  A  girl  —  dressed  like  that  —  and  carrying  a 
revolver !  Just  a  common  '  Susie ! '  "  gasped  Cor- 
delia. 

"  Yes  —  just  a  common  '  Susie/  '  twinkled 
Genevieve. 

"  But  I  thought  she  was  a  —  a  cowboy,"  quavered 
Cordelia.  "  You  said  they'd  be  here  in  —  in  all 
their  war  paint!  " 

From  behind  them  sounded  a  muffled  snort  and 
a  low-voiced : 

"  Boys,  she  thinks  that's  a  cowboy !  Come  on  — 
say  we  show  'em !  Eh  ?  " 

Genevieve  laughed  softly  at  what  Cordelia  had' 
said,  and  at  the  disappointment  in  her  voice. 

"Cowboys?  Well,  they  are  here,"  she  acknowl- 
edged with  twitching  lips,  "  and  in  their  war  paint, 
too  —  of  a  kind !  They're  right  here  —  Why, 
they're  gone''  she  broke  off.  "  Never  mind,"  she 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


laughed,  as  she  caught  sight  of  a  silk  hat  and  a  black 
coat  hurrying  toward  a  group  of  saddled  ponies. 
"  I  reckon  you'll  see  all  the  cowboys  you  want  to 
before  you  go  back  East  again.  Now  come  up  and 
meet  Susie  —  and  she  hasn't,  really,  any  revolver 
there,  Cordelia,  in  spite  of  that  cartridge  belt  and 
holster.  She's  always  rigging  up  that  way.  She 
likes  it!" 

Susie  proved  to  be  "  a  girl  just  like  us,"  as  Cor- 
delia amazedly  expressed  it  to  Alma  Lane.  She 
was  certainly  a  very  pleasant  one,  they  all  decided. 
But  even  Susie  could  not  keep  their  eyes  from  wan- 
dering to  the  unfamiliar  scene  around  them. 

It  was  a  bare  little  station  set  in  the  midst  of  a 
bare  little  prairie  town,  and  quite  unlike  anything 
the  Easterners  had  ever  seen  before.  Broad,  dusty 
streets  led  seemingly  nowhere.  Low,  straggling 
houses  stretched  out  lazy  lengths  of  untidiness,  ex- 
cept where  a  group  of  taller,  more  pretentious  build- 
ings indicated  the  stores,  a  hotel  or  two,  several 
boarding  houses,  and  numerous  saloons  and  dance 
halls. 

From  the  station  doorway,  a  blanketed  Indian 
looked  out  with  stolid,  unsmiling  face.  Leaning 
against  a  post  a  dreamy-eyed  Mexican  in  tight 
trousers,  red  sash,  and  tall  peaked  hat,  smoked  a 
cigarette.  Halfway  down  the  platform  a  tired- 
looking  man  in  heavy  cowhide  boots  and  rough 
clothes,  watched  beside  a  huge  canvas-topped  wagon 


70  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

beyond  which  could  be  seen  the  switching  tails  of 
six  great  oxen. 

"  There's  Fred's  '  boat/ "  remarked  Bertha, 
laughingly,  to  Cordelia. 

"Where?  What?  Cordelia  had  been  trying  to 
look  in  all  directions  at  once. 

"  That  prairie  schooner  down  there." 

"  Now  that  looks  like  the  pictures,"  asserted 
Cordelia.  "  I  wonder  if  the  cowboys  will.'* 

"  I  declare,  the  whole  thing  is  worse  than  a  three- 
ring  circus,"  declared  Tilly,  aggrievedly,  to  Gene- 
vieve.  "  I  simply  can't  see  everything!  " 

"  All  aboard  for  the  ranch,"  called  Mr.  Hartley, 
leading  the  way  around  to  the  other  side  of  the 
station;  and  like  a  flock  of  prairie  chickens,  as 
Genevieve  put  it,  they  all  trooped  after  him. 

"  Why,  what  funny  horses !  "  cried  Tilly,  as  Mr. 
Hartley  stopped  before  a  large,  old-fashioned  three- 
seated  carriage  drawn  up  to  the  platform. 

At  Genevieve's  chuckling  laugh,  Tilly  threw  a 
sharper  glance  toward  the  two  gray  creatures  at- 
tached to  the  carriage. 

"  Why,  they  aren't  horses  at  all  —  yes,  they  are 
—  no,  they  aren't,  either !  " 

"  I  always  heard  young  ladies  were  a  bit  change- 
able," grinned  Tim  Nolan,  mischievously;  "but  do 
they  always  change  their  minds  as  often  as  that, 
Miss?" 

"  Yes,  they  do  —  when  the  occasion  demands  it," 


SIX  STAB  RANCH  71 

retorted  Tilly,  with  a  merry  glance ;  and  Tim  Nolan 
laughed  appreciatively. 

"  Well,  they  aren't  horses,"  smiled  Mr.  Hartley, 
as  he  gave  his  hand  to  help  Mrs.  Kennedy  into  the 
carriage.  "  They  happen  to  be  mules.  Now,  Miss 
Tilly,  if  you'll  come  in  here  with  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
we'll  put  two  other  young  ladies  and  myself  in  the 
other  two  seats,  and  leave  Genevieve  to  do  the 
honors  in  one  of  the  ranch  wagons  with  the  rest  of 
you.  The  baggage,  the  boys  are  already  putting  in 
the  other  wagon,  I  see,"  he  added,  looking  back  to 
where  two  men  were  busy  with  a  pile  of  trunks  and 
bags.  "  They'll  come  along  after  us.  Mr.  Tim  is 
on  his  horse,  of  course.  We'll  let  him  show  us  the 
way.  Now  stow  yourselves  comfortably,"  he  ad- 
monished his  guests.  "  You  know  we  have  an 
eighteen-mile  ride  ahead  of  us ! " 


72  SIX   STAR   RANCH 


CHAPTER   VI 

CORDELIA   SEES   A    COWBOY 

THROUGH  the  broad,  dusty  streets,  by  the  strag- 
gling houses,  and  out  on  to  the  boundless  sea  of 
grass  trailed  the  carriage  and  the  ranch  wagons, 
with  Mr.  Tim  in  the  lead. 

Five  pairs  of  eyes  grew  wide  with  wonder  and 
awe. 

"  I  didn't  suppose  anything  in  the  world  could  be 
so  —  so  far,"  breathed  Cordelia,  who  was  with  Mr. 
Hartley  on  the  front  seat  of  the  carriage. 

"  No  wonder  Genevieve  was  always  talking  about 
'  space,  wide,  wide  space,'  "  cried  Bertha.  "  Why, 
it's  just  like  the  ocean  —  only  more  so,  because 
there  aren't  any  waves." 

"  As  if  anything  could  be  more  like  the  ocean 
than  the  ocean  itself,"  giggled  Tilly. 

Mr.  Hartley  laughed  good-naturedly. 

"  Never  mind,  Miss  Bertha,"  he  nodded.  "  Just 
you  wait  till  there's  a  little  more  wind,  and  you'll 
see  some  waves,  I  reckon.  It's  mighty  still  just 
now;  and  yet  —  there,  look!  Over  there  to  the 
right  — see?" 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  73 

They  all  looked,  and  they  all  saw.  They  saw  far 
in  the  distance  the  green  change  to  gray,  and  the 
gray  to  faint  purple,  and  back  again  to  green,  while 
curious  shifting  lights  and  shadows  glancing  across 
the  waving  blades  of  grass,  made  them  ripple  like 
water  in  the  sunlight.  At  the  same  time,  from 
somewhere,  came  a  soft,  cool  wind. 

"  Why,  it  is  —  it  is  just  like  the  ocean,"  exulted 
Cordelia.  "  I've  seen  it  look  like  that  down  to  Nan- 
tasket,  'way,  'way  off  at  sea." 

"  I  told  you  'twas,"  triumphed  Bertha. 

"  Well,  anyway,"  observed  Tilly,  demurely, 
"  they  must  be  awfully  dry  waves  —  not  much  fun 
to  jump ! " 

"  Tilly,  how  can  you  ? "  protested  Cordelia. 
"  How  you  do  take  the  poetry  out  of  anything ! 
I  believe  you'd  take  the  poetry  out  of  —  of  Shake- 
speare himself !  " 

"  Pooh !  Never  saw  much  in  him  to  take  out," 
shrugged  Tilly. 

"Tilly!"  gasped  Cordelia. 

"  Tilly  can't  see  poetry  in  anything  that  doesn't 
jingle  like  '  If  you  love  me  as  I  love  you,  no  knife 
can  cut  our  love  in  two,'  "  chanted  Bertha. 

"  My  dears ! "  remonstrated  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
feebly. 

Tilly  turned  with  swift  pacification. 

"  Don't  you  worry,  Mrs.  Kennedy.  I'm  used  to 
it.  They  can't  trouble  me  any !  " 


74  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

It  was  Mr.  Hartley  who  broke  the  silence  that 
followed. 

"Well,  Miss  Cordelia,"  he  asked  laughingly, 
"  what  is  the  matter  ?  You've  been  peering  in  all 
directions,  and  you  look  as  if  you  hadn't  found 
what  you  were  hunting  for.  You  weren't  expect- 
ing to  find  soda  fountains  and  candy  stores  on  the 
prairie,  were  you  ?  " 

Cordelia  smiled  and  shook  her  head. 

"  Of  course  not,  Mr.  Hartley !  I  was  looking  for 
the  blue  bonnets  —  the  flowers,  you  know.  Gene- 
vieve  said  they  grew  wild  all  through  the  prairie 
grass." 

"  And  so  they  do  —  specially,  early  in  the  spring, 
my  dear.  I  wish  you  could  see  them,  then." 

"  I  wish  I  could  —  Genevieve  has  told  me  so 
much  about  them.  She  says  they're  the  state  flower. 
I  thought  they  had  such  a  funny  name;  I  wanted 
to  pick  one,  if  I  could.  She  says  they're  lovely, 
too." 

:'  They  are,  indeed,  and  I  wish  you  could  see 
them  when  they  are  at  their  best,"  rejoined  Mr. 
Hartley;  then  he  turned  to  Bertha,  who  had  been 
listening  with  evident  interest.  "  In  the  spring  it's 
a  blue  ocean,  Miss  Bertha  —  I  wish  you  could  see 
the  wind  sweep  across  it  then!  And  I  wish  you 
could  smell  it,  too,"  he  added  with  a  laugh.  "I 
reckon  you  wouldn't  think  it  much  like  your  salty, 
fishy  east  wind,"  he  finished,  twinkling. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  75 

"  Oh,  but  we  just  love  that  salty,  fishy  east  wind, 
every  time  we  go  near  the  shore,"  retorted  a  chorus 
of  loyal  Eastern  voices;  and  Mr.  Hartley  laughed 
again. 

In  the  ranch  wagon  behind  them,  Genevieve  was 
doing  the  honors  of  the  prairie  right  royally.  Here, 
there,  and  everywhere  she  was  pointing  out  some- 
thing of  interest.  In  the  ranch  wagon,  too,  the 
marvelous  hush  and  charm  of  limitless  distance  had 
wrought  its  own  spell;  and  all  had  fallen  silent. 

It  was  Alma  Lane  who  broke  the  pause. 

>l  What  are  all  those  deep,  narrow  paths,  such  a 
lot  of  them,  running  parallel  to  the  wheel  tracks  ?  " 
she  asked  curiously.  "  I've  been  watching  them  ever 
since  we  left  Bolo.  They  are  on  both  sides,  too." 

:'  They're  made  by  the  cattle,"  answered  Gene- 
vieve ;  "  such  a  lot  of  them,  you  know,  traveling 
single  file  on  their  way  to  Bolo.  Bolo  is  a  '  cow 
town  '  —  that  is,  they  ship  cattle  to  market  from 
there." 

"  Poor  things,"  sighed  Elsie,  sympathetically. 
"  I  saw  some  yesterday  from  the  train.  I  thought 
then  I  never  wanted  to  eat  another  piece  of  beef- 
steak —  and  I  adore  beefsteak,  too." 

Genevieve  sobered  a  little. 

"  I  know  it;  I  know  just  how  you  feel.  I  hate 
that  part  —  but  it's  business,  I  suppose.  I  reckon 
I  hate  business,  anyhow  —  but  I  love  the  ranch! 
I  can't  get  used  to  the  branding,  either." 


76  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  What's  that?  "  asked  Elsie. 

Genevieve  shook  her  head.  A  look  of  pain  crossed 
her  face. 

"  Don't  ask  me,  Elsie,  please.  You'll  find  out 
soon  enough.  Branding  is  business,  too,  I  sup- 
pose —  but  it's  horrid.  Mammy  Lindy  says  that 
the  first  time  I  saw  our  brand  on  a  calf  and  realized 
what  it  meant  and  how  it  got  there,  I  cried  for 
hours  —  for  days,  in  fact,  much  of  the  time." 

"  Why,  Genevieve,"  cried  Elsie,  wonderingly. 
"  How  dreadful !  What  is  a  brand  ?  I  thought 
'  brand  '  meant  the  kind  of  coffee  or  tea  one  drank." 

Alma  frowned  and  threw  a  quick  look  into  Gene- 
vieve's  face. 

"What  a  funny  little  town  Bolo  is!"  she  ex- 
claimed, with  a  swift  change  of  subject.  "  I  de- 
clare, it  looked  'most  as  sleepy  as  Sunbridge." 

"  Sleepy !  "  laughed  Genevieve,  her  face  clearing, 
much  to  Alma's  satisfaction.  "  You  should  see  Bolo 
when  it's  really  awake  —  say  when  some  association 
of  cattlemen  meet  there.  And  there's  going  to  be 
one  next  month,  I  think.  There's  no  end  of  fun 
and  frolic  and  horse-racing  then,  with  everybody 
there,  from  the  cowboys  and  cattle-kings  to  the 
trappers  and  Indians.  You  wouldn't  think  there 
was  anything  sleepy  about  Bolo  then,  I  reckon," 
nodded  Genevieve,  gayly. 

"  Genevieve,  quick  —  look !  —  off  there,"  cried 
Elsie,  excitedly. 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  77 

"  Some  more  of  Fred's  '  boats  '  —  three  of  them 
this  time,"  laughed  Alma,  her  eyes  on  the  three 
white-topped  wagons  glistening  in  the  sunlight. 

"  Boats  ?  "  questioned  Genevieve. 

"  That's  what  little  Fred  Wilson  told  us  we  were 
going  to  ride  in,"  explained  Alma.  "  He  said  they 
had  prairie  schooners  here,  and  schooners  were 
boats,  of  course." 

Genevieve  laughed  merrily. 

"  I  wish  Fred  could  see  these  '  boats,'  "  she  said. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know ;  I  feel  as  if  they  were 
boats,"  declared  Alma,  stoutly.  "  I'm  sure  I  don't 
think  anybody  on  the  ocean  could  be  any  more  glad 
to  see  a  sail  than  I  should  be  to  see  one  of  these, 
if  I  were  a  lonely  traveler  on  this  sea  of  grass !  " 

"But  where  are  they  going?"  questioned  Elsie. 

"  I  don't  know  —  nor  do  they,  probably,"  re- 
joined Genevieve,  with  a  quizzical  smile.  >l  They're 
presumably  emigrants  hunting  up  cheap  land  for  a 
new  home.  There  used  to  be  lots  of  them,  Father 
says ;  but  there  aren't  so  many  now.  See  —  they're 
going  to  cross  our  way  just  ahead  of  us.  We'll  get 
a  splendid  view  of  them." 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  curiously  clumsy, 
yet  curiously  airy-looking  wagons.  Sallow-faced 
women  looked  out  mournfully,  and  tow-headed 
children  peeped  from  every  vantage  point.  Brawny, 
but  weary-looking  men  stalked  beside  their  teams. 

"  Look  at  the  men  —  walking! "  cried  Elsie. 


78  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  They're  '  bull-whackers,'  "  nodded  Genevieve, 
mischievously. 

"  Bull-whackers!" 

"  Yes,  because  their  teams  happen  to  be  oxen ; 
if  they  were  mules,  now,  they'd  be  *  mule-skin- 
ners.' " 

"  Is  that  what  you  are,  then  ?  "  asked  Elsie,  with 
a  demureness  that  rivaled  Tilly's  best  efforts. 
"  You're  driving  mules,  you  know." 

"Well,  you  better  not  call  me  that,"  laughed 
Genevieve.  "  See,  they've  stopped  to  speak  to 
Father.  I  reckon  we'll  have  to  stop,  too." 

"  I  '  reckon '  we  shall,"  mimicked  Elsie,  good- 
naturedly. 

"  They've  got  all  their  household  goods  and  gods 
in  those  wagons,"  said  Genevieve,  musingly.  "  I 
can  see  a  tin  coffeepot  hanging  straight  over  one 
woman's  head." 

"  I  shouldn't  think  they  had  anything  but  chil- 
dren," laughed  Alma,  as  from  every  wagon  there 
tumbled  a  scrambling,  squirming  mass  of  barefoot 
legs,  thin  brown  arms,  and  touseled  hair  above  wide, 
questioning  eyes. 

Long  minutes  later,  from  the  carriage,  Cordelia 
Wilson  followed  with  dreamy  eyes  the  slow-receding 
wagons,  now  again  upon  their  way. 

"  I  feel  just  like  '  ships  that  pass  in  the  night,' ' 
she  murmured. 

"  I  don't.     I   feel  just  like  supper,"   whispered 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  79 

Tilly.  Then  she  laughed  at  the  frightened  look 
Cordelia  flung  at  Mr.  Hartley. 

On  and  on  through  the  shimmering  heat,  under 
the  cloudless  sky,  trailed  the  carriage  and  the  ranch 
wagons.  Mr.  Tim  had  long  ago  galloped  out  of 
sight. 

It  was  when  they  were  within  five  miles  of  the 
ranch  that  Cordelia,  looking  far  ahead,  saw  against 
the  horizon  a  rapidly  growing  black  speck.  For 
some  time  she  watched  it  in  silence ;  then,  suddenly, 
she  became  aware  that,  large  as  was  the  speck  now, 
it  had  broken  into  other  specks  —  bobbing,  shifting 
specks  that  promptly  became  not  specks  at  all,  but 
men  on  horseback. 

Spasmodically  she  clutched  Mr.  Hartley's  arm. 

"  What  —  are  —  those  ?  "  she  questioned,  with 
dry  lips. 

Mr.  Hartley  gave  an  indifferent  glance  ahead. 

"  Cowboys,  I  should  say,"  he  answered. 

Cordelia  caught  her  breath.  At  that  moment  a 
shot  rang  out,  then  another,  and  another. 

Mr.  Hartley  looked  up  now,  sharply,  a  little 
angrily.  The  indifference  was  quite  gone  from  his 
face. 

It  was  then  that  Genevieve's  voice  came  clear  and 
strong  from  the  wagon  behind. 

"  It's  the  boys,  Father  —  our  boys !  "  she  called. 
"  I  know  it's  the  boys.  I  told  them  I'd  promised 
the  girls  a  welcome,  and  they're  giving  it  to  us !  " 


80  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  By  George !  it  is  our  boys,"  breathed  Mr.  Hart- 
ley. And  the  scowl  on  his  face  gave  way  to  a 
broad  smile. 

"  Is  it  really  all  —  fun  ?  "  quavered  Cordelia, 
breathlessly. 

"  Every  bit,"  Mr.  Hartley  assured  her.  And 
then  —  though  still  breathlessly  —  Cordelia  gave 
herself  up  to  the  excitement  of  the  moment. 

They  were  all  about  them  soon  —  those  lithe, 
supple  figures,  swaying  lightly,  or  sitting  superbly 
erect  in  their  saddles.  From  the  top  of  their  broad- 
brimmed  hats  to  the  tips  of  their  high-heeled  cow- 
boy boots  they  were  a  wonder  and  a  joy  to  the 
amazed  eyes  of  Cordelia.  With  stirrups  so  long 
the  chains  clanked  musically,  they  galloped  back  and 
forth,  shouting,  laughing,  and  shooting  wildly  into 
the  air.  With  their  chaparejos,  or  leather  overalls, 
their  big  revolvers,  their  spurs,  their  bright  silk 
handkerchiefs  knotted  loosely  around  their  necks 
over  the  open  collar  of  their  flannel  shirts,  they  made 
a  brave  show,  indeed.  Nor  was  the  least  of  the 
wonders  about  them  the  graceful  swirls  of  loosely- 
coiled  lariats  hanging  from  the  horns  of  their  sad- 
dles. 

After  all,  it  lasted  only  a  minute  before  the  re- 
volvers were  thrust  into  the  waiting  holsters,  and 
before  the  men,  bareheaded,  were  making  a  sweep- 
ing bow  from  their  saddles. 

It  was  Genevieve  who  led  the  clapping. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  81 

"  Oh,  boys,  thank  you !  That  was  fine  —  just 
fine !  "  she  crowed.  "  Now  I  reckon  Cordelia  thinks 
she  has  seen  a  cowboy  all  right!  " 

And  Cordelia  did.  A  little  white,  but  bravely 
smiling,  she  was  sitting  erect,  apparently  serene. 
And  only  Mr.  Hartley  knew  that  one  of  her  hands 
was  clutched  about  his  arm  in  a  grasp  that  actually 
hurt. 

"  They  did  that  —  all  that  shooting  and  yelling  — 
just  for  a  joke,  then?"  she  asked  Mr.  Hartley,  a 
little  later. 

"  Only  that.  They  were  giving  you  a  welcome 
to  the  Six  Star  Ranch." 

"  Then  they  don't  act  like  that  all  the  time?  " 

"  Hardly!"  laughed  the  man.  "I  reckon  they 
wouldn't  get  much  work  done  if  they  did." 

Cordelia  drew  a  relieved  sigh.  Her  eyes,  a  little 
less  fearful,  rested  on  the  erect  figure  of  the  nearest 
cowboy,  just  to  the  right  of  the  carriage. 

"  I'm  so  glad,"  she  murmured.  "  I'll  tell  Mrs. 
Miller.  She  thought  they  did,  you  know  —  yell  al- 
ways without  just  and  due  provocation,  and  shoot 
at  sight." 

The  man's  lips  twitched;  but  the  next  moment 
they  grew  a  bit  stern  at  the  corners. 

"  That's  exactly  it,  Miss  Cordelia  —  exactly  the 
idea  that  some  people  have  of  the  boys,  and  I'll 
grant  that  when  they  —  they  drink  too  much 
whiskey,  they  aren't  exactly  what  you  might  call 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


peaceable,  desirable  companions  —  though  three- 
fourths  of  their  antics  then  are  caused  by  reckless 
high  spirits  rather  than  by  real  ugliness  —  with  ex- 
ceptions, of  course.  But  when  sober  they  are  quiet, 
straightforward,  generous-hearted  good  fellows, 
hard-working  and  honest;  certainly  my  boys  are." 

Mr.  Hartley  hesitated,  then  went  on,  still  gravely. 

"  There's  just  as  much  difference  in  ranches,  of 
course,  Miss  Cordelia,  as  there  is  in  folks;  and  all 
the  ranches  are  changing  fast,  anyway,  nowadays. 
Lots  of  the  owners  are  quitting  living  on  them  at 
all.  They've  gone  into  the  towns  to  live.  On  the 
Six  Star  the  boys  take  their  meals  with  the  family; 
and  in  many  places  they  don't  do  that,  I  know,  even 
where  the  owner  lives  on  the  ranch.  Our  boys  are 
very  loyal  to  us,  and  very  much  interested  in  all 
that  concerns  us.  They  fairly  worship  Genevieve, 
and  have,  all  the  way  up." 

"I'm  so  glad,"  murmured  Cordelia,  again;  and 
this  time  there  was  a  look  very  much  like  admira- 
tion in  the  eyes  that  rested  on  Long  John  just 
ahead. 

It  was  some  time  later  that  Mr.  Hartley  said, 
half  turning  around : 

"  Look  straight  ahead,  a  little  to  the  right,  young 
ladies,  and  you'll  get  a  very  good  view  of  the  Six 
Star  Ranch." 

"  Oh,  and  you've  got  a  windmill,"  cried  Tilly. 
"  I  can  see  it  against  the  sky ;  I  know  I  can ! '? 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  83 

"  Yes,  we've  got  a  windmill,"  nodded  Mr.  Hart- 
ley. 

"  I  love  windmills,"  exulted  Cordelia. 

"  So  does  Genevieve,"  observed  Mr.  Hartley, 
raising  his  eyebrows  a  little. 

Only  Cordelia  noticed  the  odd  smile  he  gave  as  he 
spoke,  and  she  did  not  know  what  it  meant.  Later, 
however,  she  remembered  it.  She  was  too  much 
excited  now  to  think  of  anything  but  the  fact  that 
the  Six  Star  Ranch  was  so  near. 

Bertha  craned  her  neck  to  look  ahead. 

"  Only  think,  we  haven't  passed  a  house,  not  a 
house  since  we  left  Bok>,"  she  cried. 

Mr.  Hartley  smiled. 

"  You  see,  Miss  Bertha,  Bolo,  eighteen  miles 
away,  is  our  nearest  neighbor;  and  you'll  have  to 
go  even  farther  than  that  in  any  other  direction 
to  strike  another  neighbor." 

"  My  stars !  "  gasped  Bertha.  "  How  awful  lone- 
some it  must  be,  Mr.  Hartley." 

"  Anyhow,  you  can't  be  much  bothered  with 
neighbors  running  in  to  borrow  two  eggs  and  a 
little  soda,  can  you?  "  giggled  Tilly. 

"No;  that  isn't  one  of  the  difficulties  we  have 
to  deal  with,"  smiled  Mr.  Hartley;  but  Bertha 
bridled  visibly. 

"  Well,  really,  Tilly  Mack,"  she  exclaimed  in  pre- 
tended anger,  "  I  should  like  to  know  if  you  mean 
anything  special!  You  see,"  she  added  laughingly 


84  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

to  Mr.  Hartley,  "  I  happen  to  live  next  to  Tilly, 
myself!" 

From  both  carriage  and  wagon,  now,  came  a 
babel  of  eager  chatter.  There  was  so  much  to  be 
seen  on  the  one  hand,  so  much  to  be  explained  on 
the  other.  The  buildings  and  corrals  were  plainly 
visible  by  this  time,  and  each  minute  they  became 
more  clearly  defined. 

"  Do  you  mean  that  all  that  belongs  to  just  one 
ranch  ?  "  demanded  Tilly. 

"Sure!"  twinkled  Mr.  Hartley.  "You  see,  if 
folks  can't  borrow  of  us,  we  can't  borrow  of  them, 
either ;  so  it's  rather  necessary  that  we  have  all  the 
comforts  of  home  ourselves." 

"  Well,  I  guess  you've  got  them,"  laughed  Tilly, 
looking  wonderingly  about  her. 

"  I  reckon  we  have,"  nodded  Mr.  Hartley,  as  he 
began  to  point  out  one  and  another  of  the  buildings. 

There  was  the  long,  low  ranch  house  facing  the 
wide  reach  of  the  prairie.  Behind  it,  and  connected 
with  it  by  a  covered  way,  were  the  dining  room  and 
the  cook  room.  Beyond  that  was  the  long  bunk 
house  where  the  men  slept,  flanked  by  another  build- 
ing for  the  Mexican  servants.  There  were  stables,  , 
sheds,  a  storehouse  and  saddle-room,  and  a  black- 
smith's shop.  Below  the  house  an  oblong  bit  of 
fenced  ground  showed  a  riot  of  color  —  Genevieve's 
flower  garden.  Below  that  was  a  vegetable  garden. 
There  was  a  large  corral  for  the  cattle,  and  a  smaller 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  85 

one,  high  and  circular,  for  the  horses.  There  were 
three  or  four  green  trees  near  the  house  —  tall,  thin 
cottonwoods  that  had  grown  up  along  the  slender 
streams  of  waste  water  from  the  windmill. 


86  SIX  STAR   RANCH 


CHAPTER   VII 

THE    RANCH    HOUSE 

"  AND  here  we  are  at  the  Six  Star  Ranch,"  cried 
Mr.  Hartley,  as  he  leaped  from  the  carriage  before 
the  wide-open  door  of  the  ranch  house.  "  Well, 
Mammy  Lindy,"  he  added,  as  the  kindly,  wrinkled 
old  face  of  a  colored  woman  appeared  in  the  door- 
way, "  I've  corralled  the  whole  bunch  and  brought 
them  West  with  me !  " 

A  little  stiffly  the  girls  got  down  from  their  seats 
—  all  but  Genevieve.  She,  in  the  space  of  a  breath, 
seemingly,  had  leaped  to  the  ground  and  run  up  on 
to  the  wide  gallery  where  the  negress,  with  adoring 
eyes,  awaited  her. 

"  Laws,  chil'e,"  Tilly,  who  was  nearest,  heard  a 
tenderly  crooning  voice  say,  "  but  I  am  jes'  pow'ful 
glad  to  see  ye,  honey ! " 

"  Mammy,  you  old  darling ! "  cried  Genevieve, 
giving  the  rotund,  gayly-clad  figure  a  bear-like  hug. 
'  You  look  just  as  good  as  you  used  to  —  and  my, 
my!  just  see  all  this  new  finery  to  welcome  me,"  she 
added,  holding  off  her  beaming-faced  old  nurse  at 
arms'  length.  "  I  reckon  you'll  think  something  has 
come,  Mammy  Lindy,  when  we  all  get  settled,"  she 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  87 

added  laughingly,  as  she  turned  to  present  the  old 
woman  to  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  the  girls. 

A  little  later,  Tilly,  in  the  wide,  center  hallway, 
was  looking  wonderingly  about  her. 

"  Well,  Genevieve  Hartley,  I  didn't  think  you 
could  have  room  enough  for  us  all,"  she  de- 
clared ;  "  but  I'll  give  it  up.  I  should  think  you 
might  entertain  the  whole  state  of  Texas  in  this 
house!" 

"  We  try  to,  sometimes,"  laughed  Genevieve. 
"  You  know  we  Texans  pride  ourselves  on  always 
having  room  for  everybody." 

"  Well,  I  should  think  you  did  —  and,  only  think, 
all  on  one  floor,  too !  " 

Genevieve  did  not  answer.  She  was  looking 
around  her  with  a  thoughtful  little  frown  between 
her  eyebrows  as  if  she  saw  something  she  did  not 
quite  understand. 

The  girls  were  standing  in  the  wide  center  hall- 
way that  ran  straight  through  the  house.  On  one 
side,  through  a  wide  archway,  could  be  seen  a  large 
living-room  with  piano,  bookshelves,  comfortable 
chairs,  a  couch,  and  a  good-sized  table.  Beyond 
that  there  was  a  narrow  hall  with  two  large  rooms 
leading  from  it.  From  the  other  side  of  the  center 
hall  opened  another  narrow  hall  at  right  angles, 
from  which  led  the  six  remaining  rooms  of  the 
house. 

"  This  is  more  fun  than  getting  settled  in  the 


88  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

sleepers*"  declared  Elsie  Martin,  as  Genevieve  be- 
gan to  fly  about  arranging  her  guests. 

The  boys  made  quick  work  of  bringing  in  the 
trunks  and  bags;  and  then  for  a  brief  half-hour 
there  was  quiet  while  eight  pairs  of  hurried  hands 
attempted  to  remove  part  of  the  dust  of  travel  and 
to  unearth  fresh  blouses  and  clean  linen  from  long- 
packed  trunks. 

It  was  a  hungry,  merry  crowd,  a  little  later,  that 
trooped  through  the  long  covered  way  leading  to 
the  dining-room. 

"  Now  I  know  why  this  house  has  got  so  much 
room  in  it,"  declared  Tilly.  "  We  could  have  room 
in  the  East  if  we  banished  our  dining-rooms 
and  kitchens  and  pantries  to  the  neighbors  like 
this!" 

Genevieve  did  not  answer.  They  had  reached 
the  long  narrow  room  with  the  big  table  running 
lengthwise  of  it.  Only  one  end  of  the  table  was  set 
with  places  for  eight. 

"Why,  where  are  the  boys?"  questioned  Gene- 
vieve. 

Mammy  Lindy  shook  her  head. 

"  Dey  ain't  here,  chil'e." 

"  But,  Mammy,  you  are  mistaken.  They  are 
here.  They  came  home  with  us." 

*  Yas'm,  dey  done  come  home,  sure  'nuf,  but  dey 
ain't  eat  in'  now,  honey." 

"Why  not?" 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  89 

Again  the  old  woman  shook  her  head.  She  did 
not  answer.  She  turned  troubled  eyes  first  on  the 
two  young  Mexican  maids  by  the  doorway,  then  on 
Mr.  Hartley. 

"  Father,  do  you  know  what  this  means  ?  "  de- 
manded Genevieve. 

"  No,  dearie,  I  must  say  I  don't,"  frowned  Mr. 
Hartley. 

"  Then  I  shall  find  out,"  avowed  the  mistress  of 
the  Six  Star  Ranch.  "  Mammy  Lindy,  please  seat 
my  guests,  and  have  the  supper  served  right  away. 
I'll  find  Mr.  Tim." 

"  But,  my  dear,"  remonstrated  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
gently,  "  wouldn't  it  be  better  if  you  ate  your  own 
supper  first  —  with  your  guests  ?  " 

Genevieve  shook  her  head.  Her  face  flushed 
painfully. 

"  I  know,  Aunt  Julia,  of  course,  what  you  mean. 
You  don't  think  it's  civil  in  me  to  run  off  like  this. 
But  it's  the  boys  —  something  is  the  matter.  They 
always  eat  with  us.  Why,  they  may  be  thinking  we 
don't  want  them,  Aunt  Julia.  Please,  please  excuse 
me,  everybody,"  she  entreated,  as  she  ran  from  the 
room. 

Halfway  to  the  bunk  house  Genevieve  met  the 
ranch  foreman. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Tim,  supper  is  ready.  Didn't  you 
know  ?  "  she  called,  hurrying  toward  him.  "  Where 
are  the  boys  ?  " 


90  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

An  odd  expression  crossed  the  man's  kindly, 
weather-beaten  face. 

"  Oh,  they're  'round  —  in  spots." 

"  Why  don't  they  come  to  supper  ?  " 

Mr.  Tim's  eyebrows  went  up. 

"  Well,  as  near  as  I  can  make  out,  that's  part  of 
the  welcome  they're  giving  you." 

"  Welcome !  —  to  stay  away  from  supper !  " 

Mr.  Tim  laughed. 

"  I  reckon  maybe  I'll  have  to  explain,"  he  replied. 
"  Long  John  told  me  they'd  got  it  all  fixed  up  that, 
after  your  fine  doings  back  East,  you  wouldn't  take 
to  things  on  the  ranch  very  well.  So  for  two  days 
the  whole  bunch  has  been  slicking  things  up,  in- 
cluding themselves.  They  hunted  up  every  stiff 
hat  and  b'iled  shirt  in  this  part  of  Texas,  I  reckon, 
for  that  splurge  at  Bolo;  and  Mammy  Lindy  says 
they've  been  pestering  the  life  out  of  her,  slicking 
up  the  house." 

Genevieve  drew  in  her  breath  with  a  little  cry. 

"  There !  That's  what  was  the  matter  with  the 
rooms,"  she  ejaculated.  "  Nothing  looked  natural 
—  but  some  things  weren't  exactly  '  slicked  up,'  Mr. 
Tim.  I  couldn't  turn  around  without  finding  a  book 
at  my  elbow.  There's  scarcely  one  left  on  the 
shelves!" 

"  Maybe  I  can  explain  that,"  returned  the  man, 
with  a  twinkle  in  his  eyes.  "  Reddy  said  the  East 
was  mighty  strong  on  books  and  culturing,  so  I 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  91 

s'pose  he  thought  he'd  have  'em  'round  handy.  It's 
lucky  your  father  had  all  them  books  come  out  while 
you  was  studying,  or  else  I  reckon  the  boys  would 
have  hit  the  trail  for  the  nearest  book-store  and 
roped  every  book  in  sight." 

Genevieve  laughed  appreciatively. 

"  But,  the  supper  ?  "  she  frowned  again. 

"  Oh,  that's  part  of  the  outfit  —  and  Reddy  said 
it  was  '  dinner,'  too.  He  said  that  he  was  raised 
back  East,  and  that  he  knew;  and  that  'twas 
more  seemly  that  you  ate  it  without  their  com- 
pany." 

"Humph!  Well,  it  isn't,  and  I  sha'n't,"  settled 
Genevieve,  emphatically.  "Where  is  Reddy?  Go 
in  to  supper,"  she  laughed,  "  and  I'll  round  up  the 
boys  —  I  mean,  I'll  find  them,"  she  corrected  de- 
murely. "  Miss  Jane  doesn't  like  me  to  say  '  round 
up,'  Mr.  Tim." 

Mr.  Tim  smiled,  but  his  eyes  grew  tender  —  al- 
most anxious. 

"  I  reckon  they  haven't  spoiled  you  back  East, 
after  all,  little  girl.  You're  the  same  true  blue,  like 
you  was,  before." 

Genevieve  laughed  and  colored  a  little. 

"Of  course  I  am,"  she  declared.  "Now  I'm 
going  for  the  boys." 

Mr.  Tim  laid  a  detaining  hand  on  her  arm. 

"  Not  to-night ;  it's  late,  and  it  would  make  no 
end  of  fuss  all  around.  But  I'll  tell  them.  They'll 


92  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

be  on  hand  for  breakfast,  all  right.  Now  go  back 
to  your  own  supper,  yourself." 

"  All  right,"  agreed  Genevieve,  reluctantly. 
"  But  —  to-morrow,  remember !  " 

"  I  ain't  forgetting  —  to-morrow,"  nodded  the 
man. 

In  the  dining-room  Genevieve  was  greeted  with  a 
merry  clamor,  under  cover  of  which  she  said  hur- 
riedly to  her  father: 

"  It's  all  right.     They'll  come  to-morrow." 

"  I  guess  you  won't  find  we've  left  you  much  to 
eat,"  gurgled  Elsie  Martin,  her  mouth  full  of  fried 
chicken. 

"Oh,  yes,  I  shall  — in  Texas,"  retorted  Gene- 
vieve. 

"  But  I'm  so  ashamed,"  apologized  Cordelia.  "  I 
don't  think  we  ought  to  eat  so  much." 

"  I  do,"  disagreed  Tilly,  "  when  everything  is  so 
perfectly  lovely  as  this  is.  They  are  just  the  nicest 
things !  And  just  guess  how  many  hot  biscuits  I've 
eaten  with  this  delicious  plum  sauce!  Mr.  Hartley 
says  they're  wild  —  the  plums,  I  mean,  not  the  bis- 
cuits." 

"  And  it's  all  such  a  surprise,  too,"  interposed 
Alma  Lane;  "milk,  and  butter,  an,d  all." 

Genevieve  stared  frankly. 

"  Surprise !  —  milk  and  butter!  "  she  exclaimed. 
"  Didn't  you  suppose  we  had  milk  and  butter?  " 

Alma  blushed. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


"  Why,  Genevieve,  I  —  I  didn't  mean  anything, 
you  know,  truly  I  didn't,"  she  stammered.  "  It's 
only  that  —  that  ranches  don't  usually  have  them, 
you  know." 

"Don't  usually  have  them!"  frowned  Gene- 
vieve. "  Alma  Lane,  what  are  you  talking 
about?" 

"  Why,  we  read  it,  you  know,  in  a  book,"  ex- 
plained Cordelia,  hastily,  coming  to  the  rescue. 
;'  They  said  in  spite  of  there  being  so  many  cows 
all  around  everywhere,  there  wasn't  any  butter  or 
milk,  and  that  the  cowboys  wouldn't  like  to  be  asked 
to  milk,  you  know." 

"You  read  it?  Where?"  Genevieve's  forehead 
still  wore  its  frown. 

Mr.  Hartley  gave  a  chuckling  laugh. 

"  I  reckon  Genevieve  doesn't  know  much  about 
such  ranches,"  he  observed.  "  As  I  was  telling  you, 
Miss  Cordelia,  coming  out  this  afternoon,  there's 
just  as  much  difference  in  ranches  as  there  is  in 
folks;  and  ours  happens  to  be  the  kind  where  we 
like  all  the  comforts  of  home  pretty  well.  To  be 
sure,  I  wouldn't  just  like  to  ask  Reddy  or  Long 
John  to  milk,  maybe,"  he  added,  with  a  whimsical 
smile;  "but  I  don't  have  to,  you  see.  I've  got 
Carlos  for  just  such  work.  He  looks  after  the 
vegetable  garden,  too,  and  Genevieve's  flowers.  By 
the  way,  dearie,"  —  he  turned  to  his  daughter  — 
"  Tim  says  Carlos  has  been  putting  in  his  prettiest 


94  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

work  on  your  garden  this  summer.  Be  sure  you 
don't  forget  to  notice  it." 

"  As  if  I  could  help  noticing  it,"  returned  Gene- 
vieve.  She  was  about  to  say  more  when  there  came 
an  earnest  question  from  Cordelia. 

"  Mr.  Hartley,  please,  what  did  you  call  those 
two  men?  " 

"What  men?" 

"  The  ones  you  —  you  wouldn't  wish  to  ask  to 
milk." 

"  Oh,  the  boys  ?  I  don't  remember  —  I  reckon 
'twas  Reddy  and  Long  John  that  I  mentioned, 
maybe." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  that's  the  one  I  mean  —  the  John 
one.  What  is  his  other  name,  please  ?  " 

"His  surname?  Why,  really,  Miss  Cordelia,  I 
reckon  I've  forgotten  what  it  is.  The  boys  all  go 
by  their  first  names,  mostly,  else  by  a  nickname. 
Why  ?  Found  a  long-lost  friend  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,  sir.  Well,  I  mean  —  that  is  —  he  may 
be  lost,  but  he  isn't  mine,"  stammered  Cordelia,  who 
was  always  very  literal. 

"  Then  don't  blush  so,  Cordy,"  bantered  Tilly, 
wickedly,  "  else  we  shall  think  he  is  yours." 

Cordelia  blushed  a  still  deeper  pink,  but  she  said 
nothing;  and  in  the  confusion  of  leaving  the  dining- 
room  she  managed  to  place  herself  as  far  from  Tilly 
as  possible.  On  the  back  gallery  she  saw  the  ranch 
foreman.  As  the  others  went  chattering  through 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  95 

the  hall  to  the  gallery  beyond,  she  lingered 
timidly. 

"  Mr.  Nolan,  would  —  would  you  please  tell  me 
Mr.  —  Mr.  John's  other  name  ?  " 

"  John  ?    Oh,  you  mean  '  Long  John/  Miss  ?  " 

"Yes;  but  —  '  John'  what?" 

Tim  Nolan  frowned. 

"  Why,  let  me  see,"  —  he  bit  his  lip  in  thought  — 
«  <  Pierce  '  —  no,  '  Proctor/  Yes,  that's  it  —  '  John 
Proctor.'  " 

A  look  of  mingled  disappointment  and  relief 
crossed  Cordelia's  face. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Nolan,  very  much,"  she  fal- 
tered, as  she  hurried  after  her  companions. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  I'm  glad  or  sorry,"  she 
was  thinking.  "  Of  course  'twould  have  been  nice 
if  he'd  been  John  Sanborn,  only  I'm  afraid  Hermit 
Joe  wouldn't  like  a  cowboy  for  a  son,  specially  as 
there  wouldn't  be  anything  for  him  to  do  in  Sun- 
bridge  at  his  trade." 

Mrs.  Kennedy  announced  soon  after  supper  that 
she  should  take  matters  in  hand  very  sternly  that 
night  and  insist  upon  an  early  bedtime  hour. 

"  It  has  been  a  long,  hot,  fatiguing  day,"  she 
said,  "  but  you  are  all  so  excited  you'd  sit  up  half  the 
night  asking  questions  and  telling  stories;  so  I 
shall  take  advantage  of  my  position  as  chaperon, 
and  send  you  to  bed  very  soon." 

"  O  dear !  "  sighed  Tilly.    "  If  only  it  would  come 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


morning  quick!  Just  think,  we've  got  to  wait  a 
whole  night  before  we  can  do  any  of  the  things 
we're  dying  to  do !  " 

"  Never  mind ;  there  are  lots  of  days  coming," 
laughed  Mr.  Hartley.  "  What  a  fine  family  of 
young  folks  I  have,  to  be  sure/'  he  gloried,  looking 
around  him  contentedly. 

They  were  all  about  him  on  the  front  gallery,  in 
hammocks  and  chairs,  or  sitting  on  the  steps;  and 
a  very  attractive  group  they  made,  indeed. 

"  I  think  it  would  help  the  waiting  if  Genevieve 
would  go  in  and  sing  to  us,"  suggested  Bertha,  after 
a  moment's  silence.  "  It  will  be  so  heavenly  to  sit 
out  here  and  listen  to  it !  " 

"  Oh,  sing  that  lovely  Mexican  '  Swallow  Song/  ' 
coaxed  Elsie.    " '  La  Gol — '  —  Go/-something,  any- 
how." 

"  Don't  swear,  Elsie,"  reproved  Tilly,  with  be- 
coming dignity. 

" ' La  Golondrina'f"  laughed  Genevieve. 

"  Yes,  it's  a  dear,"  sighed  Elsie. 

"  I'd  rather  have  that  Creole  Love  Song  that  you 
say  Mammy  Lindy  taught  you,"  breathed  Cordelia. 
"  That  would  be  perfect  for  such  a  scene  as  this." 

"  Pooh !  I'd  rather  have  one  of  those  tinkly  little 
tunes  where  you  can  hear  the  banjos  and  the  tam- 
bourines," averred  Tilly. 

"  Indeed !  At  this  rate  I  don't  see  how  I'm  going 
to  sing  at  all,"  laughed  Genevieve,  "  with  so  many 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  97 

conflicting  wishes.  Anything  different  anybody 
wants  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  declared  Mr.  Hartley,  promptly.  "  I 
want  them  all." 

"  Of  course!  "  cried  half  a  dozen  voices. 

"All  right!"  rejoined  Genevieve,  laughingly, 
springing  to  her  feet. 

And  so  while  everybody  watched  the  stars  in  the 
far-reaching  sky,  Genevieve,  in  the  living  room, 
played  and  sang  till  the  back  gallery  and  the  long 
covered  way  at  the  rear  of  the  house  were  full  of 
the  moving  shadows  of  soft-stepping  Mexican  serv- 
ants and  cowboys.  And  everywhere  there  was  the 
hush  of  perfect  content  while  from  the  living  room 
there  floated  out  the  clear,  sweet  tones,  the  weird, 
dreamy  melodies,  and  the  tinkle  of  the  tambourines. 

One  by  one,  an  hour  later,  the  lighted  windows 
in  the  long,  low  ranch  house  became  dark.  The  last 
to  change  was  the  one  behind  which  sat  Cordelia 
Wilson  in  the  room  she  shared  with  Tilly. 

"  Cordelia,  why  don't  you  put  out  that  light  and 
go  to  bed  ? "  demanded  Tilly  at  last,  drowsily. 
"  Morning  will  never  come  at  this  rate !  " 

''  Yes,  Tilly,  I'm  going  to  bed  in  just  a  minute," 
promised  Cordelia,  as  carefully  she  wrote  in  the 
space  opposite  Mrs.  Miller's  name  on  her  list  of 
"  things  to  do  " : 

"  Cowboys  are  good,  kind  gentlemen ;  but  they 
are  noisy,  and  some  rough-looking." 


98  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Five  minutes  later,  Cordelia,  from  her  little 
bed  on  one  side  of  the  room  called  a  soft 
"  good  night "  across  to  Tilly.  But  Tilly  was  al- 
ready asleep. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  99 


CHAPTER   VIII 

THE    MISTRESS   OF   THE   SIX    STAR   RANCH 

BREAKFAST  was  an  early  matter  at  the  Six  Star 
Ranch.  It  came  almost  with  the  sunrise,  in  fact. 
Genevieve  had  assured  her  guests,  on  the  night  of 
their  arrival,  however,  that  their  breakfast  might 
be  hours  later  —  that  it  might,  indeed,  be  at  any 
hour  they  pleased.  But  on  this  first  morning  at  the 
ranch,  there  was  not  one  guest  that  did  not  promptly 
respond  to  the  breakfast-bell  except  Mrs.  Kennedy. 
The  stir  of  life  out  of  doors  had  proved  an  effectual 
rising-bell  for  all ;  and  it  was  anything  but  a  sleepy- 
looking  crowd  of  young  people  that  tripped  into  the 
dining-room  to  find  the  boys  already  waiting  for 
them  —  a  little  quiet  and  shy,  to  be  sure,  but  very 
red  and  shiny-looking  as  to  face  and  hands,  speak- 
ing loudly  of  a  vigorous  use  of  soap  and  water. 

Before  the  meal  was  half  over,  Mrs.  Kennedy 
came  in,  only  to  meet  a  chorus  of  remonstrances 
that  she  should  have  disturbed  herself  so  early. 

Genevieve,  however,  assumed  a  look  of  mock 
severity. 

"  Aunt  Julia,"  she  began  reprovingly  in  so  per- 
fect an  imitation  of  Miss  Jane  Chick's  severest 


100  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

manner  that  Mrs.  Kennedy's  lips  twitched ;  "  didn't 
you  hear  the  rising-bell,  my  dear  ?  How  often  must 
I  ask  you  not  to  be  late  to  your  meals?  " 

For  one  brief  moment  there  was  a  dazed  hush 
about  the  table;  then,  at  sight  of  Cordelia's  hor- 
rified face,  Genevieve  lost  her  self-control  and  gig- 
gled. 

"  Oh,  but  that  was  such  a  good  chance,"  she 
chuckled.  "  Please,  Aunt  Julia,  I  just  couldn't  help 
it  I  had  to!" 

"I  don't  doubt  it,"  smiled  back  Mrs.  Kennedy; 
and  at  the  meaning  emphasis  in  her  voice  there  was 
a  general  laugh. 

"  Well,  what  shall  we  do  first?  "  demanded  Tilly, 
when  breakfast  was  over. 

Genevieve  put  her  finger  to  her  lips. 

"  I  wonder,  now.  Oh,  I  know !  Let's  go  out 
and  see  if  they've  driven  in  the  saddle  band  yet; 
then  we'll  watch  the  boys  rope  them  and  start  to 
work." 

"What's  a  saddle  band?  —  sounds  like  a  girth," 
frowned  Tilly. 

"  Humph !  I  reckon  it  isn't  one,  all  the  same," 
laughed  Genevieve.  "  It's  the  horses  the  boys  ride. 
Each  one  has  his  own  string,  you  know." 

"  No,  I  don't  know,"  retorted  Tilly,  aggrievedly. 
"  And  you  needn't  use  all  those  funny  words  — 
'  string  '  and  '  saddle  band  '  and  '  rope  them  '  — 
without  explaining  them,  either,  Genevieve  Hartley. 


SIX  STAB  RANCH  101 

You've  been  talking  like  that  ever  since  we  came. 
Just  as  if  we  knew  what  all  that  meant!  " 

Genevieve  laughed  again. 

"  No,  you  don't,  of  course,"  she  admitted,  "  any 
more  than  I  understood  some  of  your  terms  back 
East.  But  come;  let's  go  out  and  watch  the  boys. 
One  of  the  sheds  has  a  lovely  low,  flat  roof,  and  we 
can  see  right  over  into  the  horse  corral  from  there. 
It's  easy;  there's  a  ladder.  Come  on!" 

"  Why,  what  a  lot  of  horses !  "  cried  Tilly,  a  mo- 
ment later,  as  they  stepped  out  of  doors.  "  Do  they 
ride  all  those?" 

"  Not  this  morning,"  laughed  Genevieve.  "  You 
see,  each  man  has  his  own  string  of  horses,  and  he 
picks  out  some  one  of  the  bunch,  and  lets  the  rest 
go.  That's  Reddy,  now,  driving  them  into  the  cor- 
ral. The  other  boys  will  be  here  pretty  quick  now, 
and  the  fun  will  begin.  You'll  see !  " 

The  horse  corral  was  high  and  circular,  and  there 
was  a  fine  view  of  it  from  the  shed  roof.  A  snub- 
bing post  was  in  the  middle  of  the  corral,  and  a 
wing  was  built  out  at  one  side  from  the  entrance 
gate,  so  that  the  horses  could  be  driven  in  more 
easily;  yet  Reddy  quite  had  his  hands  full  as  it  was. 
At  last  they  were  all  in,  and  a  merry  time  they  were 
having  of  it,  racing  in  a  circle  about  the  enclosure, 
heads  up,  and  tails  and  manes  flying. 

"  Regular  merry-go-round,  isn't  it  ? "  giggled 
Tilly.  But  Cordelia  clutched  Genevieve's  arm. 


102  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Genevieve,  look  —  they've  got  ropes !  Gene- 
vieve,  what  are  they  going  to  do?"  she  gasped, 
her  eyes  on  the  boys  who  were  running  from 
all  directions  now,  toward  the  corral.  "  Why, 
Genevieve,  they're  going  in  there,  with  all  those 
horses !  " 

"  I  reckon  they  are,"  rejoined  the  mistress  of  the 
Six  Star  Ranch.  "  Now  watch,  and  you'll  see. 
There !  —  see  there  ?  —  in  the  middle  by  that  post ! 
Each  man  will  pick  out  one  of  his  own  horses  and 
rope  him;  then  he'll  lead  him  out  and  saddle  him, 
and  the  deed's  done." 

"  I  guess  that's  easier  to  say  than  to  do,"  ob- 
served Bertha,  dryly.  "  I  notice  there  aren't  any 
of  those  horses  just  hanging  'round  waiting  to  be 
caught!" 

"  No,  there  aren't,  to-day,"  laughed  Genevieve ; 
"  though  some  of  the  horses  will  do  just  that,  at 
times  —  specially  Long  John's.  They're  pretty 
lively  now,  however,  and  it  does  take  some  skill  to 
make  a  nice  job  of  it  when  they're  jamming  and 
jostling  like  that.  But  the  boys  are  equal  to  it. 
We've  got  some  splendid  ropers !  "  This  time  there 
was  a  note  of  very  evident  pride  in  the  voice  of  the 
mistress  of  the  Six  Star  Ranch. 

It  was  a  brief  but  exciting  time  that  followed, 
filled,  as  it  was,  with  the  shouts  of  the  boys  —  the 
jeers  at  some  failure,  the  cheers  at  some  success  — 
the  thud  of  the  horses'  hoofs,  the  swirl  of  the  skill- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  103 

fully  flung  ropes.  It  was  almost  as  exciting  when 
the  boys,  their  horses  once  caught,  led  out,  and  sad- 
dled, rode  off  for  their  morning's  work.  To  Cor- 
delia, especially,  it  was  an  experience  never  to  be 
forgotten. 

"Going  to  turn  cowboy,  Miss  Cordelia?"  asked 
Mr.  Hartley,  with  a  smile,  as  he  met  the  girl  com- 
ing into  the  house  a  little  later.  Mr.  Hartley,  in 
his  broad-brimmed  hat,  and  his  gray  tweed  trousers 
tucked  into  his  high  boots,  looked  the  picture  of  the 
prosperous  ranchman  at  home. 

Cordelia  showed  a  distinctly  shocked  face. 

"Oh,  no,  sir!"  she  cried. 

"  Don't  think  you  could  learn  to  swing  the  rope 
—  eh?  "he  teased. 

"Mercy,  no!" 

A  half -proud,  wholly-gratified  smile  crossed  the 
man's  face. 

"  It  isn't  as  easy  as  it  looks  to  be,"  he  said. 
"  Once  in  a  while  we  get  a  tenderfoot  out  here, 
though,  who  thinks  he's  going  to  learn  it  all  in  a 
minute  —  or,  rather,  do  it  without  any  learning. 
But  to  be  a  good  roper,  one  has  to  give  it  long,  hard 
practice.  The  best  of  'em  begin  young.  Reddy,  the 
crack  roper  in  my  outfit,  tells  me  he  began  with  his 
mother's  clothes-line  at  the  age  of  four  years,  with 
his  rocking-horse  for  a  victim.  It  seems  there  was 
a  picture  in  one  of  his  books  of  a  cowboy  roping  a 
pony,  and  —  " 


104  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Mr.  Hartley  stopped,  as  if  listening.  From  the 
rear  of  the  house  had  sounded  the  creak  of  the 
windmill  crank.  The  man  turned,  entered  the  hall, 
and  crossed  to  the  window.  Then  he  shook  his 
head  with  a  smile. 

"  I'm  afraid  Genevieve  is  up  to  her  old  tricks," 
he  said.  "  She's  stopping  the  windmill  so  she  can 
climb  to  the  top  of  the  tower,  I  reckon." 

"  Genevieve !  —  at  the  top  of  that  tower !  "  ex- 
claimed Cordelia. 

Mr.  Hartley's  lips  twitched. 

"  Yes.  That  used  to  be  a  daily  stunt  of  hers,  and 
—  I  let  her,"  added  the  man,  a  little  doggedly.  "  It 
made  her  well  and  strong,  anyhow,  and  helped  to 
develop  her  muscle.  You  see,  we  —  we  don't  have 
gymnasiums  on  the  ranch,"  he  concluded  whim- 
sically, as  they  stepped  together  out  on  to  the  back 
gallery. 

A  babel  of  gleeful  shouts  and  laughter  greeted 
their  ears.  A  moment  later  Mr.  Hartley  and  Cor- 
delia came  in  sight  of  the  windmill.  At  its  base 
four  chattering,  shrieking  girls  were  laughing  and 
clapping  their  hands.  Above  their  heads,  Gene- 
vieve, in  a  dark  blue  gymnasium  suit,  was  swinging 
herself  gracefully  from  cross-piece  to  cross-piece  in 
the  tower. 

"  You  see,"  smiled  Mr.  Hartley ;  but  he  was  in- 
terrupted by  a  shocked,  frightened  voice  behind 
him. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  105 

"  Genevieve,  my  dear !  "  gasped  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
hurrying  forward. 

Genevieve  did  not  hear,  apparently.  To  the  girls 
she  waved  a  free  hand,  joyously.  She  was  almost 
at  the  top. 

"  It's  fine  —  mighty  fine  up  here,"  she  caroled. 
"  I  can  see  'way,  'way  over  the  prairie !  " 

"  Genevieve !  Genevieve  Hartley,  come  down  this 
instant,"  commanded  Mrs.  Kennedy.  Then  her 
voice  shook,  and  grew  piteously  frightened,  as  she 
stammered:  "No,  no  —  don't  come  down,  dear! 
Genevieve,  how  can  you  come  down  ?  "  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy was  wringing  her  hands  now. 

This  time  Genevieve  heard. 

"  Why,  Aunt  Julia,  what  is  it?  What  is  the  mat- 
ter?" The  girl's  voice  expressed  only  concerned 
surprise. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  echoed  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy, faintly.  "  Genevieve,  how  can  you  come 
down?" 

"Come  down?  Why,  that's  easy!  But  I  don't 
want  to  come  down." 

Mrs.  Kennedy's  lips  grew  stern. 

"  Genevieve,"  she  said,  with  an  obvious  effort  to 
speak  quietly;  "if  you  can  come  down,  I  desire  you 
to  do  so  at  once." 

Genevieve  came  down.  Her  eyes  flashed  a  little, 
and  her  cheeks  were  redder  than  usual.  She  did  not 
once  glance  toward  the  girls,  clustered  in  a  silent, 


106  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

frightened  little  group.  She  did  not  appear  to  no- 
tice even  her  father,  standing  by.  She  went  straight 
to  Mrs.  Kennedy. 

"  I've  come  down,  Aunt  Julia/' 

Mrs.  Kennedy  had  been  seriously  disturbed,  and 
genuinely  frightened.  To  her,  Genevieve's  climb 
to  the  top  of  the  windmill  tower  was  very  danger- 
ous, as  well  as  very  unladylike.  Yet  it  was  the 
fright,  even  more  than  the  displeasure  that  made 
her  voice  sound  so  cold  now  in  her  effort  to  steady 
it. 

"  Thank  you,  Genevieve.  Please  see  that  there 
is  no  occasion  for  you  to  come  down  again,"  she  said 
meaningly.  Then  she  turned  and  went  into  the 
house. 

Just  how  it  happened,  Genevieve  did  not  know, 
but  almost  at  once  she  found  herself  alone  with  her 
father  on  the  back  gallery.  The  girls  had  disap- 
peared. 

Genevieve  was  very  angry  now. 

"  Father,  it  wasn't  fair,  to  speak  like  that,"  she 
choked,  "  before  the  girls  and  you,  when  I  hadn't 
done  a  thing  —  not  a  thing !  Why,  it  —  it  was  just 
like  Miss  Jane !  I  never  knew  Aunt  Julia  to  be  like 
that." 

For  a  moment  her  father  was  silent.  His  face 
wore  a  thoughtful  frown. 

"  I  know  it,  dearie,"  he  said  at  last.  "  But  I  don't 
think  Mrs.  Kennedy  quite  realized,  quite  under- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  107 

stood  —  how  you'd  feel.     She  didn't  think  it  just 
right  for  you  to  be  there." 

"  But  I  was  in  my  gym  suit,  Father.    I  skipped  in 
and  put  it  on  purposely,  while  the  others  were  doing 
something   else;    then  I  climbed   the   tower.      Pd| 
planned  'way  ahead  how  I'd  surprise  them." 

The  man  hesitated. 

"I  know,  dearie,"  he  nodded,  after  a  moment; 
"  but  I  reckon  it  was  just  a  little  too  much  of  a 
surprise  for  Mrs.  Kennedy.  You  know  she  isn't 
used  to  the  West;  and  —  do  Boston  young  ladies 
climb  windmill  towers?" 

In  spite  of  her  anger,  Genevieve  laughed.  The 
mention  of  Boston  had  put  her  in  mind  of  some 
Boston  friends  of  Mrs.  Kennedy's,  whom  she  knew. 
She  had  a  sudden  vision  of  what  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  Butterfield's  faces  would  have  been,  had 
their  stern,  sixty-year-old  eyes  seen  what  Mrs. 
Kennedy  saw. 

"  I  reckon,  too,"  went  on  Mr.  Hartley,  with  a 
sigh,  "  that  I  have  sort  of  spoiled  you,  letting  you 
have  your  own  way.  And  maybe  Mammy  Lindy 
and  I,  in  our  anxiety  th^t  you  should  be  well  and 
strong,  and  sit  the  saddle  like  a  Texas  daughter' 
should,  haven't  taught  you  always  just  the  dainty 
little  lady  ways  —  that  you  ought  to  have  been 
taught." 

"  You've  taught  me  everything  —  everything 
good  and  lovely,"  protested  the  girl,  hotly. 


108  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

He  shook  his  head.  A  far-away  look  came  into 
his  eyes. 

"  I  haven't,  dearie  —  and  that's  why  I  sent  you 
East." 

Genevieve  flushed. 

"  But  I  didn't  want  to  go  East,  in  the  first  place," 
she  stormed.  "  I  wanted  to  stay  here  with  you. 
Besides,  Aunt  Julia  isn't  really  any  relation,  —  nor 
Miss  Jane,  either.  They  haven't  any  right  to  —  to 
speak  to  me  like  that." 

A  dull  red  stole  to  John  Hartley's  cheek. 

"  Tut,  tut,  dearie,"  he  demurred,  with  a  shake 
of  the  head.  "  You  mustn't  forget  how  good  they've 
been  to  you.  Besides  —  they  have  got  the  right.  I 
gave  it  to  them.  I  told  them  to  make  you  like 
themselves." 

There  was  a  long  silence.  Genevieve's  eyes  were 
moodily  fixed  on  the  floor.  Her  father  gave  her  a 
swift  glance,  then  went  on,  softly : 

"  I  suspect,  too,  maybe  we're  both  forgetting, 
dearie.  After  all,  Mrs.  Kennedy  did  it  every  bit 
through  —  love.  She  was  frightened.  She  was  so 
scared  she  just  shook,  dearie." 

"  She  —  was  ?  "     Genevieve's  voice  was  amazed. 

"  Yes.  I  reckon  that's  more  than  half  why  she 
spoke  so  stern,  and  why  she's  in  her  room  crying 
this  minute  —  as  I'll  warrant  she  is.  I  saw  her  eyes, 
and  I  saw  how  her  hands  shook.  And  I  saw  it  was 
all  she  could  do  to  keep  from  falling  right  on  your 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          109 

neck  —  because  she  had  you  back  safe  and  sound. 
Maybe  you  didn't  see  that,  dearie." 

There  was  no  answer. 

"  You  see,  their  ways  back  East,  and  ours,  aren't 
alike,"  resumed  the  man,  after  a  time ;  "  but  I  reckon 
their  —  love  is." 

Genevieve  drew  a  long  breath.  Her  brown  eyes 
were  not  clear. 

"  I  reckon  maybe  I'll  go  and  find  —  Aunt  Julia," 
she  said  in  a  low  voice. 

The  next  moment  her  father  sat  alone  on  the  back 
gallery. 


110  SIX  STAR   RANCH 


CHAPTER    IX 

REDDY   AND   THE   BRONCHO 

THERE  was  no  lack  of  interesting  things  to  do 
that  first  day  at  the  ranch.  There  was  one  half- 
hour,  to  be  sure,  when  five  of  the  Happy  Hexagons 
sat  a  little  quietly  on  the  front  gallery  and  tried  to 
talk  as  if  there  were  no  such  thing  as  a  windmill, 
and  no  such  person  as  a  girl  who  could  climb  to  the 
top  of  it;  but  after  Genevieve  and  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
arm  in  arm,  came  through  the  front  door  —  with 
eyes,  indeed,  a  little  misty,  but  with  lips  cheerfully 
smiling  —  every  vestige  of  constraint  fled.  Gene- 
vieve, once  more  in  her  pretty  linen  frock,  was  again 
the  alert  little  hostess,  and  very  soon  they  were  all 
ofT  to  inspect  the  flower  garden,  the  vegetable  gar- 
den, the  cow  corral,  the  sheds,  the  stables,  and  the 
blacksmith's  shop,  not  forgetting  Teresa,  the  cook, 
who  was  making  tamales  in  the  kitchen  for  them, 
nor  Pepito,  Genevieve's  own  horse  that  she  rode 
before  she  went  East. 

"  And  we'll  have  the  boys  pick  out  some  horses 
for  you,  too,"  cried  Genevieve,  smoothing  Pepito's 
sleek  coat  in  response  to  his  welcoming  whinny  of 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  111 

delight.  "  I'm  sure  they  can  find  something  all 
right  for  us." 

Tilly's  eyes  brightened,  so,  too,  did  Bertha's; 
but  Cordelia  spoke  hastily,  her  eyes  bent  a  bit  dis- 
trustfully on  the  spirited  little  horse  Genevieve  was 
petting. 

"  Oh,  but  I  don't  believe  they'll  have  time  to  hunt 
up  horses  for  us,  Genevieve.  Really,  I  don't  think 
we  ought  to  ask  them  to." 

"  Maybe  we  won't,  then  —  for  you"  teased  Tilly, 
saucily.  "  We'll  just  let  them  take  time  for  ours." 

It  is  a  question,  however,  if  that  afternoon,  even 
Tilly  wanted  to  ride;  for,  according  to  Cordelia's 
notes  that  night  in  "  Things  to  do,"  they  saw  a 
broncho  "  bursted." 

It  was  Mr.  Tim  who  had  said  at  the  dinner  table 
that  noon: 

"If  you  young  people  happen  to  be  on  hand,  say 
at  about  four  o'clock,  you'll  see  something  doing. 
Reddy's  got  a  horse  or  two  he's  going  to  put 
through  their  paces  —  and  one  of  'em's  never  been 
saddled." 

Privately,  to  Mr.  Hartley,  Mrs.  Kennedy  ob- 
jected a  little. 

"  Are  you  sure,  Mr.  Hartley,  the  girls  ought  to 
witness  such  a  sight  ?  "  she  asked  uneasily.  • "  Of 
course  I  don't  want  to  be  too  strict  in  my  demands," 
she  went  on  with  a  little  twinkle  in  her  eyes  that 
Mr.  Hartley  thoroughly  understood.  "  I  realize  the 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


West    isn't    the    East.      But,    will    this    be  —  all 
right?" 

"  I  think  it  will  —  even  in  your  judgment,"  he 
assured  her.  "  It's  no  professional  broncho-buster 
that  they'll  see  to-day.  I  seldom  hire  them,  any- 
way, as  I  prefer  to  have  our  own  men  break  in  the 
horses  —  specially  as  we're  lucky  enough  to  have 
three  or  four  mighty  skillful  ones  right  in  our  own 
outfit.  There'll  be  nothing  brutal  or  rough  to-day, 
Mrs.  Kennedy.  Only  one  beast  is  entirely  wild,  and 
he's  not  really  vicious,  Reddy  says.  Genevieve  tells 
me  the  girls  have  heard  a  lot  about  broncho-busting, 
and  that  they're  wild  to  see  it.  They  wouldn't  think 
they'd  been  to  Texas,  I'm  afraid,  if  they  didn't  see 
something  of  the  sort." 

"  Very  well,"  agreed  Mrs.  Kennedy,  with  visible 
reluctance. 

"  Oh,  of  course/'  went  on  Mr.  Hartley,  his  eyes 
twinkling,  "  you  mustn't  expect  that  they'll  see  ex- 
actly a  pony  parade  drawing  baby  carriages  down 
Beacon  Street;  but  they  will  see  some  of  the  best 
horsemanship  that  the  state  of  Texas  can  show.  I 
take  it  you  never  saw  a  little  beast  whose  chief  aim 
in  life  was  to  get  clear  of  his  rider  —  eh,  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy?" 

"  No,  I  never  did,"  shuddered  the  lady;  "  and  I'm 
not  sure  that  I'd  want  to,"  she  finished  decisively, 
as  she  turned  away. 

The  new  horse  proved  to  be  a  fiery  little  bay 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  113 

mustang,  and  the  fight  began  from  the  first  moment 
that  the  noose  settled  about  his  untamed  little  neck. 
As  Tilly  told  of  the  affair  in  the  Chronicles  of  the 
Hexagon  Club,  it  was  like  this : 

"  We  saw  a  broncho  busted  this  afternoon. 
Reddy  busted  it,  and  he  was  splendid.  Mercy!  I 
shall  never  think  anything  my  old  Beauty  does  is 
bad  again.  Beauty  is  a  snail  and  a  saint  beside  this 
jumping,  plunging,  squealing  creature  that  never  by 
any  chance  was  on  his  feet  properly  —  except  when 
he  came  down  hard  on  all  four  of  them  at  once  with 
his  back  humped  right  up  in  the  middle  in  a  per- 
fectly frightful  fashion  —  and  I  suppose  that  wasn't 
'  properly.'  Anyhow,  I  shouldn't  have  thought  it 
was,  if  I  had  had  to  try  to  sit  on  that  hump ! 

"  But  that  wasn't  the  only  thing  that  he  did. 
Dear  me,  no !  He  danced,  and  rolled,  and  seesawed 
up  and  down  —  *  pitching,'  Mr.  Hartley  called  it. 
And  I'm  sure  it  looked  like  it.  First  he'd  try  stand- 
ing on  his  two  fore  feet,  then  he'd  give  them  a  rest, 
and  take  the  other  two.  And  sometimes  he  couldn't 
seem  to  make  up  his  mind  which  he  wanted  to  use, 
or  which  way  he  wanted  to  turn,  and  he'd  change 
about  right  up  in  the  air  so  he'd  come  down  facing 
the  other  way.  My,  he  was  the  most  uncertain 
creature ! 

"  It  didn't  seem  to  make  a  mite  of  difference 
where  the  horse  was,  or  what  he  did  with  his  feet, 
though.  Reddy  was  right  there  every  time,  and  all 


114  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

ready,  too.  (Yes,  I  know  a  pun  is  the  lowest  order 
of  wit.  But  I  don't  care.  I  couldn't  help  it,  any- 
way—  it  was  such  a  ready  one!)  There  he  sat,  so 
loose  and  easy,  too,  with  his  quirt  (that's  a  whip), 
and  it  looked  sometimes  just  as  if  he  wasn't  half 
trying  —  that  he  didn't  need  to.  But  I'm  sure  he 
was  trying.  Anyhow,  I  know  I  couldn't  have  stayed 
on  that  horse  five  minutes ;  and  I  don't  believe  even 
Genevieve  could.  (I  said  that  to  Mr.  Tim  Nolan, 
and  he  laughed  so  hard  I  thought  I'd  put  it  in  here, 
and  let  somebody  else  laugh.) 

"  Of  course  every  one  of  us  was  awfully  excited, 
and  the  boys  kept  shouting  and  cheering,  and  yell- 
ing *  Stay  with  him ! }  and  telling  him  not  to  t  go  to 
leather  '  —  whatever  that  may  mean !  And  Reddy 
did  stay.  He  stayed  till  the  little  horse  got  tired 
out;  then  he  got  off,  and  led  the  horse  away,  and 
some  of  the  other  boys  went  through  a  good  deal 
the  same  sort  of  thing  with  other  horses,  only  these 
had  all  been  partly  broken  before,  they  told  us.  But, 
mercy,  they  were  bad  enough,  anyhow,  I  thought, 
to  have  been  brand-new.  Reddy  did  another  one, 
too,  and  this  time  he  put  silver  half-dollars  under 
his  feet  in  the  stirrups.  And  when  the  little  beast 
—  the  horse,  I  mean,  not  Reddy  —  got  through  his 
antics,  there  the  half-dollars  were,  still  there  in  the 
same  old  place.  How  the  boys  did  yell  and  cheer 
then! 

"  After  that,  they  all  just  '  showed  off '  for  us, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  115 

throwing  their  ropes  over  anything  and  everything, 
and  playing  like  a  crowd  of  little  boys  on  a  picnic, 
only  Mr.  Hartley  said  they  were  doing  some 
'  mighty  fine  roping '  with  it  all.  Their  ropes  are 
mostly  about  forty  feet  long,  and  it  looked  as  if  they 
just  slung  them  any  old  way ;  but  I  know  they  don't, 
for  afterward,  just  before  we  went  in  to  supper, 
Reddy  let  me  take  his  rope,  and  I  tried  to  throw 
it.  I  aimed  for  a  post  a  little  way  ahead  of  me, 
but  I  got  Pedro,  the  Mexican  cowboy,  behind 
me,  right  '  in  the  neck/  as  Mr.  Tim  said.  Pedro 
grinned,  and  of  course  everybody  else  laughed 
horribly. 

"  And  thus  endeth  the  account  of  how  the 
bronchos  were  busted.  (P.  S.  I  hope  whoever 
reads  the  above'  will  own  up  that  for  once  Tilly 
Mack  got  some  sense  into  her  part.  So  there!)  I 
forgot  to  say  we  took  a  nap  after  dinner.  Every- 
body does  here.  '  Siestas '  they  call  them,  Gene- 
vieve  says." 

It  was  after  supper  that  Genevieve  said : 

"  Now  let's  go  out  on  to  the  front  gallery  and 
watch  the  sunset.  Supper  was  too  late  last  night 
for  us  to  see  much  of  it,  but  to-night  it  will  be  fine 
—  and  you've  no  idea  what  a  sunset  really  can  be 
until  you've  seen  it  on  the  prairie !  " 

Tilly  pursed  her  lips. 

"There,  Genevieve  Hartley,  there's  another  of 


116  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

those  mysterious  words  of  yours;    and  it  isn't  the 
first  time  I've  heard  it  here,  either." 

"What  word?" 

"'Gallery.'  What  is  a  gallery  ?  I'm  sure  I  don't 
see  what  there  can  be  about  a  one-story  house  to  be 
called  a  '  gallery  ' !  " 

Genevieve  laughed. 

'  You  call  them  *  verandas '  or  '  piazzas/  back 
East,  Tilly.    We  call  them  '  galleries  '  in  Texas." 

"Oh,  is  that  it?"  frowned  Tilly.  "But  you 
never  called  Sunbridge  piazzas  that." 

Genevieve  shook  her  head. 

"  No ;  it's  only  when  I  get  back  here  that  the 
old  names  come  back  to  me  so  naturally.  Besides 
—  when  I  was  East,  I  very  soon  found  out  what 
you  called  them;  so  I  called  them  that,  too." 

"Well,  anyhow,"  retorted  Tilly,  saucily,  "I've 
got  my  opinion  of  folks  that  will  call  a  one-story 
piazza  a  *  gallery.'  I  should  just  like  to  show  them 
what  we  call  a  '  gallery '  at  home  —  say,  the  top 
one  in  the  Boston  Theater,  you  know,  where  it  runs 
'way  back." 

Genevieve  only  laughed  good-naturedly. 

On  the  front  gallery  all  settled  themselves  com- 
fortably to  watch  the  sunset.  Already  the  sun  was 
low  in  the  west,  a  huge  ball  of  fire  just  ready  to 
drop  into  the  sea  of  prairie  grass. 

"  It  doesn't  seem  nearly  so  hot  here  as  I  thought 
it  would,"  observed  Bertha,  after  a  time.  "  Oh,  it's 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  117 

been  warm  to-day,  of  course  —  part  of  the  time 
awfully  warm,"  she  added  hastily.  "  But  I've  been 
just  as  hot  in  New  Hampshire." 

"  We  think  we've  got  a  mighty  fine  climate," 
spoke  up  Mr.  Hartley.  "  Now,  last  year,  you  in  the 
East,  had  heaps  of  prostrations  from  the  heat. 
Texas  had  just  three." 

"  I  suppose  that  was  owing  to  the  Northers," 
murmured  Cordelia,  interestedly.  "Now,  feel  it!" 
She  put  up  her  hand.  "  There's  a  breeze,  now.  Is 
that  a  Norther?" 

Mr.  Hartley  coughed  suddenly.  Genevieve 
stared. 

"  What  do  you  know  about  Northers  ?  "  she  de- 
manded. 

"  Why,  I  —  I  read  about  them.  It  said  you  — 
you  had  them." 

Genevieve  broke  into  a  merry  laugh. 

"  I  should  think,  by  the  way  you  put  it,  that  they 
were  the  measles  or  the  whooping  cough!  We  do 
have  them,  Cordelia  —  in  the  winter,  specially,  but 
not  so  often  in  July.  Besides,  they  don't  feel  much 
like  this  little  breeze  —  as  you'd  soon  find  out,  if 
you  happened  to  be  in  one." 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence ;  then  Genevieve 
spoke  again. 

"  See  here,  where'd  you  find  out  all  these  things 
about  Texas  —  that  we  didn't  have  butter,  and  did 
have  Northers?" 


118  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Before  Cordelia  could  answer,  Tilly  interposed 
with  a  chuckling  laugh : 

"  I'll  tell  you,  Genevieve,  just  where  they  found 
out/7  she  cut  in,  utterly  ignoring  her  own  share  of 
the  "  they."  "  Now,  listen !  How  do  you  suppose 
they  spent  all  the  time  you  were  in  New  Jersey? 
I'll  tell  you.  They  were  digging  up  Texas  every 
single  minute;  and  they  dug,  and  dug,  and  dug, 
until  there  wasn't  a  mean  annual  temperature,  or  a 
mean  anything  else  that  they  didn't  drag  from  its 
hiding-place  and  hold  up  triumphantly,  and  shout: 
'Behold,  this  is  Texas!'" 

"  Girls  —  you  didn't !  "  cried  Genevieve,  choking 
with  laughter. 

"They  did!  "affirmed  Tilly. 

"  Yes,  we  did  —  including  Tilly,"  declared  Cor- 
delia, with  unexpected  spirit. 

Everybody  laughed  this  time,  but  it  was  Alma, 
the  peacemaker,  who  spoke  next. 

"  Oh,  look  —  look  at  the  sun !  "  she  exclaimed. 
"  Aren't  those  rose-pink  clouds  gorgeous  ?  " 

"My,  wouldn't  they  make  a  lovely  dress?" 
sighed  Elsie. 

"  Yes,  and  see  the  golden  pathway  the  sun  has 
made,  straight  down  to  the  prairie,"  cried  Bertha 
Brown. 

"  Oh,  look,  look,  Mr.  Hartley !  Is  that  grass  on 
fire?"  gasped  Cordelia. 

Mr.  Hartley  shook  his  head. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  119 

"No  —  I  hope  not." 

"  But  you  do  have  prairie  fires?  " 

"  Sometimes ;  but  not  so  often  nowadays  — 
though  I've  seen  some  bad  ones,  in  my  time." 

There  was  a  long  silence.  All  eyes  were  turned 
toward  the  west.  Above,  a  riot  of  rose  and  gold 
and  purple  flamed  across  the  sky.  Below,  more 
softly,  the  colors  seemed  almost  repeated  in  the 
waving,  shifting,  changing  expanse  of  fairylike  love- 
liness that  the  prairie  had  become. 

"  Oh,  how  beautiful  it  all  is,  and  how  I  do  love 
it,"  breathed  Genevieve,  after  a  time,  as  if  to  her- 
self. 

Gradually  the  gorgeous  rose  and  gold  and  purple 
changed,  softened,  and  faded  quite  away.  The 
slender  crescent  of  the  moon  appeared,  and  one  by 
one  the  stars  showed  in  the  darkening  sky. 

"  It's  all  so  quiet,  so  wonderfully  quiet,"  sighed 
Cordelia ;  then,  abruptly,  she  cried :  "  Why,  what's 
that?" 

There  had  sounded  a  far-away  shout,  then  an- 
other, nearer.  On  the  breeze  was  borne  the  muffled 
tread  of  hundreds  of  hoofs.  A  dog  began  to  bark 
lustily. 

Later,  they  swept  into  view  —  a  troop  of  cow- 
boys, and  a  thronging,  jostling  mass  of  cattle. 

"  On  the  way  to  a  round-up,  probably,"  explained 
Mr.  Hartley,  as  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  went 


120  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

to  meet  the  foreman,  who  was  coming  toward  the 
house. 

Still  later,  he  explained  more  fully. 

"  They've  put  them  in  our  pens  for  the  night. 
The  boys  have  gone  into  camp  a  mile  or  so  away." 

Genevieve  shuddered. 

"  I  hate  round-ups,"  she  cried  passionately. 

"  What  are  round-ups  ?  "  asked  Bertha  Brown. 

"  Where  they  brand  the  cattle,"  answered  Gene- 
vieve, quickly,  but  in  a  low  voice. 

Cordelia,  who  was  near  her,  shuddered.  She 
seemed  now  to  see  before  her  eyes  that  seething 
mass  of  heads  and  horns,  sweeping  on  and  on  un- 
ceasingly. 

Cordelia  had  two  dreams  that  night.  She  won- 
dered, afterward,  which  was  the  worse.  She 
dreamed,  first,  that  an  endless  stream  of  cattle 
climbed  the  windmill  tower  and  jumped  clear  to  the 
edge  of  the  prairie,  where  the  sun  went  down.  She 
dreamed,  secondly,  that  she  was  very  hungry,  and 
that  twenty  feet  away  stood  a  table  laden  with  hot 
biscuits  and  fried  chicken;  but  that  the  only  way 
she  could  obtain  any  food  was  to  "  rope  it "  with 
Reddy's  lariat.  At  the  time  of  waking  up  she  had 
not  obtained  so  much  as  one  biscuit  or  a  chicken 
wing. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    X 

CORDELIA    GOES   TO    CHURCH 

"  WE'RE  going  to  have  church  to-morrow/'  Gene- 
vieve  had  announced  on  the  first  Saturday  night  at 
the  ranch.  "  A  minister  is  coming  from  Bolo,  and 
he  holds  the  service  out  of  doors.  Everybody  on 
the  place  comes,  and  we  sing,  and  it's  lovely ! " 

As  it  happened,  Cordelia  had  not  been  present 
when  Genevieve  made  this  announcement.  It  was 
left  for  Tilly,  therefore,  to  tell  her. 

"  Oh,  Cordelia,  I  forgot.  We're  going  to  have 
church  to-morrow,"  she  said  that  night,  as  she  was 
brushing  her  hair  in  their  room. 

Cordelia,  who  was  taking  off  her  shoes,  looked 
up  delightedly. 

"  Oh,  Tilly  —  church  ?    We're  going  to  church  ?  " 

Tilly  laughed;  then  an  odd  little  twist  came  to 
her  mouth. 

"  Yes,  Cordelia ;  we're  —  going  to  church,"  she 
answered. 

"What  time?" 

"  Eleven  o'clock,  Genevieve  said." 

"  Oh,   won't  that  be   fun  —  I  mean,   I'm  very 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


glad,"  corrected  Cordelia,  hastily,  a  confused  red  in 
her  cheeks. 

In  Cordelia's  bed  that  night,  Cordelia  thought 
happily  : 

"  Maybe  now  I  can  get  some  new  ideas  for  Uncle 
Thomas  to  put  in  his  services.  They  do  everything 
so  differently  here  in  the  West,  and  Uncle's  audi- 
ences get  so  small  sometimes,  specially  Sunday  eve- 
nings." 

In  Tilly's  bed,  Tilly,  a  little  guilty  as  to  con- 
science, was  trying  to  excuse  herself. 

''  Well,  anyhow,"  she  was  arguing  mentally, 
"  Genevieve  said  '  everybody  comes/  and  if  they 
'  come  '  they  must  *  go  '  ;  so  of  course  we're  '  going  ' 
to  church." 

Not  until  Cordelia  was  dropping  off  to  sleep  did 
something  occur  to  her.  She  sat  up,  then,  suddenly. 

"  Tilly,"  she  called  softly,  "  where  is  that  church  ? 
Do  we  have  to  ride  eighteen  miles  to  Bolo?  " 

Tilly  did  not  answer.  She  was  asleep,  decided 
Cordelia  —  it  was  dark,  and  Cordelia  could  not  see 
the  pillow  Tilly  was  stuffing  into  her  mouth. 

Just  after  breakfast  Sunday  morning,  Elsie  Mar- 
tin said  a  low  word  in  Genevieve's  ear,  and  drew 
her  out  of  earshot  of  the  others.  Her  eyes  were 
anxious. 

"  Genevieve,  do  you  have  to  dress  up  much  for 
this  kind  of  —  of  church?"  she  questioned. 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  123 

"  Not  a  bit,  dear.  Don't  worry.  Anything  you 
have  will  be  lovely." 

"  I  know;  but  —  well,  you  see,  it's  just  this/'  she 
quavered.  "  Aunt  Kate  fixed  up  the  girls'  green 
chambray  for  me  just  before  we  came.  I  saw  then 
it  didn't  look  just  right,  but  we  were  in  such  an 
awful  hurry  there  wasn't  time  to  do  anything;  and 
I  was  so  excited,  anyway,  that  I  didn't  seem  to 
mind,  much.  But  out  here,  in  the  bright  light,  it 
looks  awfully !  " 

"  Nonsense !  That's  all  your  own  notion,  Elsie," 
rejoined  Genevieve,  comfortingly.  "  I'm  sure  it 
looks  lovely.  Anyhow,  it  wouldn't  matter  if  it 
didn't  —  here." 

Elsie  shook  her  head  despondently. 

"  But  you  don't  understand,"  she  said.  "  You 
know  the  twins  dress  alike,  and  this  was  their  green 
chambray.  Aunt  Kate  always  likes  to  use  their 
things,  she  says,  because  there's  always  double  quan- 
tity; but  this  time  it  didn't  work  so  well.  You  see, 
Cora  was  sick  a  lot  last  summer,  when  they  had  this 
dress,  and  she  didn't  wear  hers  half  so  much  as 
Clara  did,  so  hers  wasn't  faded  hardly  any.  It  was 
an  awful  funny  color  to  begin  with;  but  it's  worse 
now,  with  part  of  it  one  shade,  and  part  another. 
You  see,  one  sleeve's  made  of  Cora's,  and  one  of 
Clara's;  and  the  front  breadth  is  Cora's  and  the 
back  is  Clara's.  Of  course  Aunt  Kate  cut  it  out 
where  she  could  do  it  best,  and  didn't  think  but 


124  SIX   STAR   RANCH 

what  they  were  alike;  but  you  don't  know  what  a 
funny-looking  thing  that  dress  is !  I  —  I  don't 
know  whether  to  turn  Clara  toward  folks,  or  Cora," 
she  finished  with  a  little  laugh. 

Genevieve  heard  the  laugh  —  but  she  saw  that  it 
came  through  trembling  lips. 

"  Well,  I  just  wouldn't  fret,"  she  declared,  with 
an  affectionate  little  hug.  "  If  you  don't  want  to 
wear  it,  wear  something  else.  What  a  nuisance 
clothes  are,  anyhow!  I've  always  said  I  wished  we 
didn't  have  to  change  our  dress  every  time  we 
turned  around!  " 

Elsie's  eyes  became  wistful.  She  shook  her  head 
sadly. 

"  You  don't  know  anything  about  it,  Genevieve. 
Your  clothes  haven't  been  a  nuisance  to  you  —  even 
if  you  think  they  have.  You  see,  you  don't  realize 
how  nice  it  is  to  have  such  a  lot  of  pretty  things  — 
and  all  new,"  she  sighed  as  she  turned  away. 

When  Genevieve  went  to  her  room  to  dress  for 
"  church  "  that  morning,  she  looked  a  little  thought- 
fully at  the  array  of  pretty  frocks  hanging  in  her 
closet. 

"  I  wish  I  could  give  some  to  Elsie,"  she  sighed ; 
"  but  Elsie  isn't  poor,  of  course,  and  I  suppose 
she  —  she  wouldn't  take  them.  But  I  suspect  I  don't 
half  appreciate  them  myself  —  just  as  Elsie  said," 
she  finished,  as  she  took  down  a  fresh,  white  linen. 

At    quarter    before     eleven     Cordelia    Wilson 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  125 

knocked  at  Genevieve's  door.  Genevieve  opened  it 
to  find  Cordelia  in  a  neat  jacket  suit,  hat  on,  and 
gloves  in  hand. 

"Am  I  all  right,  Genevieve?"  she  asked.  "I 
wasn't  quite  sure  just  what  to  wear." 

'''  Why,  y-yes  —  only  you  don't  need  the  hat,  nor 
the  gloves,  dear;  and  I  shouldn't  think  you'd  want 
that  coat,  it's  so  warm !  " 

"  Not  want  a  hat,  or  gloves,"  burst  out  Cordelia, 
looking  distinctly  shocked.  "  Why,  Genevieve  Hart- 
ley! I  know  you  do  very  strange  things  here  in 
the  West,  but  I  did  suppose  you  —  you  dressed 
properly  to  go  to  church !  " 

"  But  it  isn't  really  church,  Cordelia,"  smiled 
Genevieve.  "  I  only  call  it  so,  you  know.  And  of 
course  we  don't  '  go '  at  all  —  only  as  far  as  the 
back  gallery." 

Cordelia  stared,  frowningly. 

"  You  mean  you  don't  drive  off  —  anywhere  ?  " 
she  demanded.  "  That  you  have  a  service  right 
here?" 

"  Yes.    I  thought  you  knew." 

"  But  Tilly  said  —  why,  I  don't  know  what  she 
did  say,  exactly,  but  she  let  me  think  we  were  going 
to  drive  off  somewhere.  And  look  at  me  —  rigged 
out  like  this !  You  know-how  she'll  tease  me !  " 
There  were  almost  tears  in  Cordelia's  sensitive  eyes. 

"  Has  she  seen  you  —  in  this  ?  " 

"  No ;   but  she  will  when  I  go  back.     I  saw  her 


126  SIX   STAR  RANCH 

whisk  through  the  hall  to  our  room  just  as  I  crossed 
through  to  come  in  here." 

"  Then  we  won't  let  her  see  you,"  chuckled  Gene- 
vieve.  "  Here,  let's  have  your  hat  and  gloves  and 
coat.  I'll  hide  them  in  my  closet.  You  can  get 
them  later  when  Tilly  isn't  around.  Now  run  back 
and  put  a  serene  face  on  it.  Just  don't  let  her  sus- 
pect you  ever  thought  of  your  hat  and  gloves." 

"  But,  do  you  think  I  ought  to  do  —  that  ?  Won't 
it  be  —  deceit?" 

"  No,  dear,  it  won't,"  declared  Genevieve,  em- 
phatically ;  "  not  any  sort  of  deceit  that's  any  harm. 
It  will  just  be  depriving  Miss  Tilly  of  the  naughty 
fun  she  expected  to  have  with  you.  You  know  how 
Tilly  loves  to  tease  folks.  Well,  she'll  just  find  the 
tables  turned,  this  time.  Now  run  back  quick,  or 
she'll  suspect  things !  "  And,  a  little  doubtfully, 
Cordelia  went. 

As  she  had  expected,  she  found  Tilly  in  their 
room. 

"  Why  don't  you  get  ready  for  church,  Cordy?  " 
demanded  Tilly,  promptly. 

"  I  am  ready.  I  dressed  early,  before  you  came 
in,"  returned  Cordelia,  trying  to  speak  very  uncon- 
cernedly. "  Why?  Don't  you  think  this  will  do?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  of  course.  You  look  very  nice,"  mur- 
mured Tilly,  a  little  hastily,  sending  a  furtive  glance 
into  Cordelia's  face.  There  was  nothing,  apparently, 
about  Cordelia  to  indicate  that  anything  unexpected 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          127 

had  occurred,  or  was  about  to  occur;  and  she  her- 
self could  not,  of  course,  ask  why  no  preparations 
for  an  eighteen-mile  journey  were  being  made,  spe- 
cially when  she  had  pretended  to  be  asleep  the  night 
before  when  Cordelia  asked  her  question  about  that 
same  journey.  "  You  look  very  nice,  I'm  sure," 
murmured  Tilly,  again.  And  Cordelia,  hearing  the 
vague  disappointment  in  Tilly's  voice,  was  filled 
with  joy  —  that  yet  carried  a  pang  of  remorse. 

It  was  a  little  later,  just  as  Tilly  was  leaving  the 
room,  that  Cordelia  turned  abruptly. 

"  Tilly,  I  did  have  on  my  hat  and  coat,"  she  burst 
out  hurriedly.  "  I  did  think  we  were  going  to  drive 
'way  off  somewhere  to  church.  But  I  found  out  and 
hid  them  in  Genevieve's  room,  so  you  would  not 
know  and  —  and  tease  me,"  she  finished  breath- 
lessly. 

Tilly  turned  back  with  a  laugh. 

"  You  little  rogue !  "  she  began ;  then  she  stopped 
short.  Her  face  changed.  "  But  —  why  in  the 
world  did  you  tell  me  now  ?  "  she  demanded  curi- 
ously. 

"  I  thought  I  ought  to." 

"Ought  to!  —  ought  to  let  me  tease  you!" 
echoed  the  dumfounded  Tilly. 

Cordelia  stirred  restlessly. 

"  Not  that,  of  course,  exactly,"  she  stammered. 
"  It's  only  that  —  that  it  seemed  somehow  like  — 
deceiving  you." 


128  SIX  STAR   RANCH 

For  a  moment  Tilly  stared;  then,  suddenly,  she 
darted  across  the  room  and  put  both  arms  around 
the  minister's  niece.  Cordelia  was  not  quite  sure 
whether  she  was  hugging  her,  or  shaking  her. 

"  Oh,  you  —  you  —  I  don't  know  what  you  are !  " 
Tilly  was  exclaiming.  "  But  you're  a  dear,  any- 
how !  "  And  it  was  actually  a  sob  that  the  as- 
tounded Cordelia  heard  as  Tilly  turned  and  fled 
from  the  room. 

To  Sunbridge  eyes,  "  church  "  that  morning  was 
something  very  new  and  novel.  At  eleven  o'clock 
Genevieve  and  her  father  piloted  their  guests  to  the 
back  gallery  where  seats  had  been  reserved  for 
them.  The  minister,  a  dark-haired,  tired-looking 
man  with  kind  eyes,  had  arrived  some  time  before 
on  horseback.  To  Mrs.  Kennedy,  especially,  he 
looked  a  little  too  unconventional  in  his  heavy  boots 
and  coarse  garments  which,  though  plainly  recently 
brushed,  still  showed  the  dust  of  the  prairie  in  spots. 
He  sat  now  at  one  side  talking  with  Mr.  Tim  while 
his  "  congregation  "  was  gathering. 

And  what  a  congregation  it  was !  As  Genevieve 
had  said,  everybody  on  the  ranch  came,  except  those 
whose  duties  prohibited  them  from  coming.  Singly, 
or  in  picturesque  groups,  they  settled  themselves 
comfortably  on  the  back  gallery,  or  along  the  cov- 
ered way  leading  to  the  dining-room.  Even  Teresa, 
in  a  huge  fresh  apron  that  made  her  great  bulk  look 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          129 

even  greater,  sat  just  outside  the  dining-room  door, 
where  she  could  easily  run  in  from  time  to  time,  to 
see  that  the  roast  chickens  in  the  oven  were  not 
burning,  nor  the  beets  on  the  stove  boiling  dry. 

The  "  pulpit "  was  a  little  stand  placed  at  the 
house-end  of  the  covered  way.  The  "  choir  "  was 
the  piano  in  the  living-room  drawn  up  close  to  the 
window,  with  Genevieve  herself  seated  at  it.  Nor 
was  the  "  church  "  itself  devoid  of  beauty,  with  its 
growing  vines  and  flowers,  and  its  shifting  lights 
and  shadows  as  the  soft  clouds  sailed  slowly  through 
the  blue  sky  overhead.  As  to  the  audience  —  no 
scholarly  orator  in  a  Fifth  Avenue  cathedral  found 
that  day  more  attentive  listeners  than  did  that  tired- 
looking  minister  find  in  the  curiously-assorted 
groups  before  him  —  the  swarthy  Mexicans,  the 
picturesque  cowboys,  the  eager-eyed,  fresh-faced 
young  girls  from  a  far-away  town  in  the  East. 

They  sang  first,  Genevieve's  own  clear  voice 
leading;  and  even  Tilly,  who  seldom  sang  in  church 
at  home,  found  herself  joining  heartily  in  "  Nearer 
my  God  to  Thee,"  and  "  Bringing  in  the  Sheaves." 
There  was  something  so  free,  so  whole-souled  about 
the  music  in  that  soft  outdoor  air,  that  she,  as  well 
as  some  of  the  others,  decided  that  never  before 
had  any  music  sounded  so  inspiring. 

For  the  first  two  minutes  after  the  preacher  arose 
to  begin  his  sermon,  Mrs.  Kennedy  saw  nothing 
but  the  dust  on  the  right  shoulder  of  his  coat.  But 


130  SIX   STAR   RANCH 

after  that  she  saw  nothing  but  his  earnest  eyes. 
She  had  fallen  then  quite  under  the  sway  of  his 
clear,  ringing  voice. 

"  '  While  Josiah  was  yet  young,  in  the  sixteenth 
year  of  his  age,  he  began  to  seek  the  God  of  his 
fathers/  "  announced  the  clear,  ringing  voice  as 
the  text;  and  Genevieve,  hearing  it,  wondered  if 
the  minister  could  have  known  that  at  least  a  part 
of  his  audience  that  day  would  be  so  exactly,  or  so 
very  nearly,  "  in  the  sixteenth  year  "  of  their  own 
age. 

It  was  a  good  sermon,  and  it  was  well  preached. 
The  time,  the  place,  the  occasion,  the  atmosphere 
all  helped,  too.  All  the  Happy  Hexagons  paid 
reverent  attention.  Tilly,  fresh  from  her  somewhat 
amazing  experience  with  Cordelia,  made  many  and 
stern  resolutions  to  be  everything  that  was  good 
and  helpful,  nothing  that  was  bad  and  hateful. 
Genevieve,  who  had  slipped  off  her  piano  stool  to 
an  easier  chair,  sat  with  dreamy,  tender  eyes.  She 
was  thinking  of  the  dear  mother,  who,  as  she  could 
so  well  remember,  had  told  her  that  she  must  always 
be  good  and  brave  and  true  first,  before  anything 
else. 

"  Good  and  brave  and  true !  "  She  wondered  if 
she  could  —  always.  It  seemed  so  easy  to  do  it  now, 
with  this  good  man's  earnest  voice  in  her  ears.  But 
it  was  so  hard,  so  strangely  hard,  at  other  times. 
And  there  were  so  many  things  —  so  many,  many 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          131 

little  things  —  that  to  Aunt  Julia  and  Miss  Jane 
looked  so  big !  —  things,  too,  that  to  her  seemed 
eminently  all  right. 

*  When  Josiah  was  yet  young,  in  the  sixteenth 
year  of  his  age,  he  began  to  seek  the  God  of  his 
fathers/"  quoted  the  minister  again,  impressively; 
and  Genevieve  realized  then,  with  misty  eyes,  that 
the  sermon  was  done. 

The  minister  stayed  to  dinner,  of  course;  and, 
in  spite  of  her  interest  in  the  sermon,  Teresa  had 
seen  to  it  that  the  dinner  was  everything  that  one 
could  ask  of  it.  The  minister  had  the  place  of 
honor  at  the  table,  and  proved  to  be  a  most  agree- 
able talker.  Genevieve  had  not  caught  his  name 
distinctly,  but  she  thought  it  was  "  Jones."  He 
lived  in  Bolo,  he  said,  having  recently  moved  there 
from  a  distant  part  of  the  state.  He  hoped  that  he 
might  be  able  to  do  good  work  there.  Certainly 
there  was  need  that  somebody  do  something.  In 
response  to  Mr.  Hartley's  cordial  invitation  to  stay 
a  few  days  at  the  ranch,  he  answered  with  visible 
regret : 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  Nothing  would  please  me 
more,  but  it  is  quite  out  of  the  question.  I  must  go 
back  this  afternoon.  I  have  a  service  in  Bolo  this 
evening." 

"  You  must  be  a  busy  man,"  observed  Mr.  Hart- 
ley, genially. 


132  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

The  minister  sighed. 

"  I  am  —  yet  I  can't  do  half  that  I  want  to.  This 
outside  work  among  the  ranches  I  shall  try  to  carry 
on  as  best  I  can.  But  you're  all  so  afraid  you'll  have 
a  neighbor  nearer  than  a  score  of  miles,"  he  added 
with  a  whimsical  smile,  "  that  I  can't  get  among  you 
very  often." 

It  was  after  dinner  that  the  minister  chanced  to 
hear  Genevieve  speak  of  herself  as  a  Happy  Hexa- 
gon. 

"  Hexagon?  —  Hexagon?  "  he  echoed  smilingly. 
"  And  are  you,  too,  a  Happy  Hexagon  ?  "  he  asked, 
turning  to  the  mistress  of  the  Six  Star  Ranch. 

"  Why,  yes.  Do  you  mean  you  know  another 
one  ?  "  questioned  the  girl,  all  interest  immediately. 
"  It's  the  name  of  our  girls'  club  —  the  Hexagon 
Club." 

"  No,  but  I  heard  of  one,  once,"  rejoined  the  man. 
"  And  it  isn't  usual,  you  know,  so  it  attracted  my 
attention." 

"But  where  was  it?  When  was  it?  We  sup- 
posed we  were  the  only  Happy  Hexagons  in  the 
world,"  cried  Genevieve. 

The  minister  smiled.  * 

"  I  found  my  Happy  Hexagons  at  the  bottom  of 
a  letter  from  the  East." 

"  A  letter  from  the  East  ?  "  Genevieve's  voice 
held  now  a  curious  note  of  wild  unbelief. 

"  Yes.     It  came  before  we  moved  to  Bolo.     My 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          133 

elder  daughter  was  teaching  in  the  East,  and  was 
taken  ill.  Some  of  her  girls  wrote  to  us." 

Genevieve  sprang  to  her  feet. 

"Are  you  —  you  can't  be  — the  Rev.  Luke 
Jones !  "  she  cried. 

"  That  is  my  name." 

"  And  is  Quentina  your  daughter?  " 

It  was  the  minister's  turn  to  look  amazed. 

;<  Why,  yes ;  but  — how  do  you  know  ?  Are  you 
—  you  can't  be  —  my  Happy  Hexagons !  "  he  ejacu- 
lated. 

She  nodded  laughingly.  She  spoke,  too;  but 
what  she  said  was  not  heard.  All  of  the  Happy 
Hexagons  were  talking  by  that  time.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Jones,  indeed,  found  himself  besieged  on  all  sides 
with  eager  questions  and  amazed  comments. 

Under  cover  of  the  confusion,  Mr.  Hartley  turned 
in  puzzled  wonder  to  Mrs.  Kennedy. 

"Will  you  tell  me  what  all  this  is  about?"  he 
begged. 

Mrs.  Kennedy  smiled. 

"Of  course !  I  think  perhaps  it  is  all  new  to  you. 
Last  winter  Miss  ^\lice  Jones,  a  Texas  lady  and  the 
girls'  Latin  teacher,  was  taken  ill.  The  girls  were 
very  attentive,  and  did  lots  of  little  things  for  her ; 
but  she  grew  worse  and  had  to  leave.  Just  before 
she  went,  the  mother  wrote  a  letter  thanking  the 
girls,  and  in  the  letter  was  a  note  signed  '  Quentina 
Jones/  Quentina  was  a  younger  sister,  it  seemed, 


134  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

and  she,  too,  wished  to  thank  the  girls.  Of  course 
the  girls  were  delighted,  and  immediately  answered 
it,  signing  themselves  '  The  Happy  Hexagons.'  The 
teacher  went  away  then,  and  the  girls  heard  noth- 
ing more.  But  they  have  talked  of  Quentina  Jones 
ever  since." 

"  But  it's  all  so  wonderful,"  cried  Genevieve,  her 
voice  rising  dominant  at  last.  "  Where  is  Miss 
Alice  Jones,  and  how  is  she  ?  " 

"  She  is  better,  thank  you,  though  not  very  strong 
yet.  She  is  teaching  in  Colorado." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad,"  cried  Genevieve,  "  but  I  wish 
we  could  see  her,  too.  Only  think,  girls,  of  Quen- 
tina Jones  being  right  here,  only  eighteen  miles 
away ! " 

"  One  would  think  eighteen  miles  were  a  mere 
step !  "  laughed  Tilly. 

"  They  are  —  in  Texas,"  retorted  Genevieve. 
Then,  to  the  minister  she  said :  "  Now  tell  us,  please, 
Mr.  Jones,  what  we  can  do.  We  want  io  see  Quen- 
tina right  away,  quick.  We  can't  wait!  Can 
she  come  over?  Can't  she?  We'd  love  to  have 
her!" 

The  minister  shook  his  head  slowly. 

"  I'm  afraid  not,  Miss  Genevieve  —  thank  you 
just  the  same.  I'd  love  to  have  her.  It  would  do 
her  such  a  world  of  good,  poor  little  girl,  to  have 
one  happy  time  with  all  you  young  people !  But  my 
wife  has  a  lame  foot  just  now,  and  Quentina  simply 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          135 

cannot  be  spared.  You  know  she  has  several 
brothers,  so  we  have  quite  a  family.  But,  I'll  tell 
you  what  —  you  young  ladies  must  all  come  to  see 
us." 

"  Oh,  thank  you !  We'd  love  to  —  and  we  will, 
too."  (Back  in  her  ranch  home,  it  was  easy  for 
Genevieve  to  slip  into  her  old  independent  way  of 
consulting  no  one's  will  but  her  own.)  "  When  do 
you  want  us  ?  " 

"  But,  my  dear,"  interposed  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
hastily,  "  if  Mrs.  Jones  is  not  well,  surely  we  cannot 
ask  her  to  take  in  six  noisy  girls  as  guests !  " 

"  Why,  no  —  of  course  not,"  stammered  Gene- 
vieve. The  rest  of  the  Happy  Hexagons  looked 
suddenly  heartbroken.  But  the  minister  smiled  re- 
assuringly. 

"  My  wife  isn't  ill  —  only  lame ;  and  she  loves 
young  people.  She'll  be  just  as  eager  for  you  to 
come  as  Quentina  will  be  —  and  Quentina  just  sim- 
ply won't  take  '  no '  for  an  answer,  I'm  sure.  She 
talked  for  days  of  the  Happy  Hexagons,  after  your 
letter  came.  You  must  come,  only  —  "  he  hesitated, 
"  only  I'm  afraid  you'll  be  a  little  cramped  for  room. 
A  village  parsonage  isn't  a  ranch,  you  know.  But, 
if  you  don't  mind  sort  of  —  picnicking,  and  having 
to  stand  up  in  the  corner  to  sleep  —  "  he  paused 
quizzically. 

"  We  adore  standing  up  and  sleeping  in  corners," 
declared  Genevieve,  promptly. 


136  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"Then  shall  we  call  it  Tuesday?"  smiled  Mr. 
Jones. 

"  But  how  can  they  go  ?  "  questioned  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy, in  an  anxious  voice. 

"Why,  they  might  ride  it,"  began  Mr.  Hartley, 
slowly ;  "  still,  that  would  hardly  do  —  even  should 
the  ponies  come  in  time  —  such  a  long  trip  when 
they  haven't  ridden  any  here,  yet.  I'll  tell  you. 
We'll  let  Carlos  drive  them  over  in  the  carriage 
early  Tuesday  morning.  I  reckon  the  seven  of  them 
can  stow  themselves  away,  somehow  —  it  holds  six 
with  room  to  spare  on  every  seat.  Then,  Wednes- 
day afternoon,  he  can  drive  them  back.  Meanwhile, 
he  can  stay  himself  in  the  town  and  get  some  sup- 
plies that  I'm  needing." 

"  But  seems  to  me  that  gives  us  a  very  short 
visit/'  demurred  Mr.  Jones,  as  he  rose  to  take  his 
leave. 

"  Quite  long  enough  —  for  the  good  wife,"  de- 
clared Mrs.  Kennedy,  decisively.  And  thus  the 
matter  was  settled. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          137 


CHAPTER   XIi 

QUENTINA 

QUITE  the  most  absorbing  topic  of  conversation 
Monday  was,  of  course,  the  coming  visit  to  Quen- 
tina  Jones. 

"  But  what  is  her  name  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Hart- 
ley at  last,  almost  impatiently.  "  It  isn't  '  Quen- 
tina,'  of  course.  I  know  that  man  who  was  here 
Sunday  would  never  have  named  a  daughter  of  his 
'  Quentina.' " 

"  Her  name  is  f  Clorinda  Dorinda/ '  replied 
Genevieve.  "  She  told  us  so  in  her  letter;  but  she 
said  she  was  always  called  '  Quentina/  I  don't 
know  why." 

"  Whew !  I  should  think  she  would  be,"  laughed 
Mr.  Hartley.  "  Only  fancy  having  to  be  called 
'  Clorinda  Dorinda '  whenever  you  were  wanted!  " 

"  Sounds  like  a  rhyming  dictionary  to  me," 
chuckled  Tilly.  " '  Clorinda,  Dorinda,  Lucinda, 
Miranda,'  "  she  chanted. 

Mr.  Hartley  laughed,  and  walked  off. 

"  Well,  I'll  leave  her  to  you,  anyhow,  whatever 
she  is,"  he  called  back. 


138  SIX   STAR  RANCH 

"  I'll  bet  he's  just  dying  to  go  with  us,  all  the 
same/'  whispered  Tilly,  saucily. 

Cordelia  frowned,  hesitated,  then  spoke. 

"  Auntie  says  ladies  don't  bet,"  she  observed,  in 
her  severest  manner. 

"  Oh,  don't  they?  "  snapped  Tilly;  then  she,  too, 
frowned,  and  hesitated.  "  All  right,  Cordy  —  Cor- 
delia; see  that  you  don't  do  it,  then,"  she  concluded 
good-naturedly. 

Monday  was  a  very  quiet  day  for  the  girls  at  the 
ranch.  Mrs.  Kennedy  had  insisted  from  the  first 
upon  this.  She  said  that  the  next  two  days  would  be 
quite  exciting  enough  to  call  for  all  the  rest  possible 
beforehand.  So,  except  for  the  usual  watching  of 
the  boys'  morning  start  to  work,  there  was  little  but 
music,  books,  and  letter-writing  allowed. 

Tuesday  dawned  clear,  but  very  warm.  The  girls 
were  all  awake  at  sunrise,  and  were  soon  ready  for 
the  early  breakfast.  Almost  at  once,  afterward, 
they  stowed  themselves  —  with  little  crowding  but 
much  giggling  —  in  the  carriage,  and  called  gayly 
to  Carlos :  "  We're  all  ready!  " 

"  Yes,  we're  all  aboard,  Carlos,"  cried  Genevieve. 

"  Good,  Senorita !  It  is  ver'  glad  I  am  to  see  you 
so  prompt  to  the  halter,"  grinned  Carlos.  "  Quien 
sabef  —  mebbe  I  didn't  reckon  on  corrallin'  the 
whole  bunch  of  you  so  soon !  " 

Genevieve  laughed,  even  while  she  made  a  wry 
face. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          139 

"  I'm  afraid  Carlos  remembers  that  I  was  never 
on  time,  girls,"  she  pouted.  "  But  you  don't  know, 
Carlos,  what  a  marvel  of  promptness  I've  become 
back  East  —  specially  since  somebody  gave  me  a 
watch,"  she  finished,  smiling  into  the  old  man's 
face. 

"  All  ready ! "  grinned  Carlos,  climbing  into  his 
seat. 

"  Let's  give  our  Texas  yell/'  proposed  Tilly, 
softly,  as  she  looked  back  to  see  Mrs.  Kennedy,  Mr. 
Hartley,  and  Mammy  Lindy  on  the  gallery  steps. 
"  Now  count,  Cordelia !  " 

And  Cordelia  did  count.  Once  again  her  face  ex* 
pressed  a  tragedy  of  responsibility,  and  once  again 
the  resulting 

"Texas,  Texas,  Tex  — Tex  — Texas! 
Texas,  Texas,  Rah!  Rah!  Rah! 
GENEVTEVE!" 

was  the  glorious  success  it  ought  to  have  been.  So 
to  a  responsive  chorus  of  shouts,  laughter,  and 
hand-clapping,  the  Happy  Hexagons  drove  away 
from  the  ranch  house. 

It  was  a  pleasant  drive,  though  a  warm  one.  It 
did  seem  a  little  long,  too,  so  anxious  were  they  to 
reach  their  goal.  The  prairie  sights  and  sounds, 
though  interesting,  were  not  so  new,  now.  Even 
the  two  or  three  herds  of  cattle  they  met,  and  the 


140  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

groups  of  cowboys  they  saw  galloping  across  the 
prairies,  did  not  create  quite  the  excitement  they 
always  had  created  heretofore.  Quentina  and  the 
minister's  home  were  so  much  more  interesting  to 
think  of! 

"  What  do  you  suppose  she'll  be  like  ?  "  asked 
Elsie. 

"  Quien  sdbef  "  laughed  Genevieve. 

"There!  what  does  that  mean?"  demanded 
Tilly.  "  I've  heard  it  lots  of  times  since  I've  been 
here." 

"  '  Who  knows  ? '  translated  Genevieve, 
smilingly. 

"  Yes,  who  does  know  ?  "  retorted  Tilly,  not  un- 
derstanding. "But  what  does  it  mean?" 

Genevieve  laughed  outright. 

"That's  just  what  it  means  —  'Who  knows?' 
The  Mexicans  and  the  cowboys  use  it  a  lot  here, 
and  when  I  come  back  I  get  to  saying  it,  too." 

"  I  should  think  you  did,"  shrugged  Tilly. 
"  Well,  anyhow,  let's  talk  straight  English  for 
a  while.  Let's  talk  of  Quentina.  What  do  you  sup- 
pose she's  like,  girls  ?  " 

"  Let's  guess,"  proposed  Genevieve.  "  We  can, 
you  know,  for  Miss  Jones  was  too  sick  to  tell  us 
anything,  and  we  haven't  a  thing  to  go  by  but 
Quentina's  letter,  and  that  didn't  tell  much." 

"  All  right,  let's  guess.  Let's  make  a  game  of 
it,"  cried  Tilly.  "  We'll  each  tell  what  we  think, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          141 

and  then  see  who  comes  the  nearest.  You  begin, 
Genevieve." 

"  All  right  I  think  she's  quiet  and  tall,  and  very 
dark  like  a  Spaniard,"  announced  Genevieve,  weigh- 
ing her  words  carefully. 

"  I  think  she's  bookish,  and  maybe  stupid/'  de- 
clared Tilly.  "  Her  letter  sounded  queer/' 

"  I  think  she's  little,  and  got  yellow  hair  and 
light-blue  eyes,"  said  Bertha. 

"  I  think  she's  got  curls  —  black  ones  —  and 
looks  lovely  in  red,"  declared  Elsie  Martin. 

"  We  can  trust  you,  Elsie,  to  get  in  something 
about  her  clothes,"  chuckled  Tilly. 

"  Well,  I  think  she's  got  brown  eyes  like  Gene- 
vieve's,  and  brown  hair  like  hers,  too,"  asserted 
Alma  Lane. 

"  Now,  Cordelia,"  smiled  Genevieve,  "  it's  your 
turn.  You  haven't  said,  yet." 

"  There  isn't  anything  left  for  me  to  say,"  replied 
Cordelia,  in  a  slightly  worried  voice.  "  You've 
got  all  the  pretty  things  used  up.  I  should  just  have 
to  say  I  think  she's  fat  and  homely  —  and  I  don't 
think  I  ought  to  say  that,  for  it  would  be  a  down- 
right fib.  I  don't  think  she's  that  at  all !  " 

There  was  a  general  laugK  at  this;  then,  for  a 
time,  there  was  silence  while  the  carriage  rolled 
along  the  prairie  road. 

Carlos  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  the' home  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  in  Bolo.  It  proved  to  be  a 


142  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

little  house,  unattractive,  and  very  plain.  It  looked 
particularly  forlorn  with  its  bare  little  front  yard, 
in  which  some  one  had  made  an  attempt  to  raise 
nasturtiums  and  petunias. 

"  Mercy !  I  guess  we'll  have  to  stand  up  in  cor- 
ners to  sleep,"  gurgled  Tilly,  as  the  carriage  stopped 
before  the  side  door. 

"Sh-h!"  warned  Genevieve.  "Tilly,  isn't  it 
awful  ?  Only  think  of  our  Quentina' s  living  here !  " 

At  that  moment  the  door  of  the  little  house 
opened,  and  Mr.  Jones  appeared.  From  around  his 
feet  there  seemed  literally  to  tumble  out  upon  the 
steps  several  boys  of  "  assorted  sizes,"  as  Tilly  ex- 
pressed it  afterward.  Then  the  girls  saw  her  in 
the  doorway  —  Quentina.  She  was  slender,  not 
very  tall,  but  very  pretty,  with  large,  dark  eyes,  and 
fine  yellow  hair  that  fluffed  and  curled  all  about  her 
forehead  and  ears  and  neck. 

"  O  Happy  Hexagons,  Happy  Hexagons,  wel- 
come, welcome,  Happy  Hexagons !  "  breathed  the 
girl  in  the  doorway  ecstatically,  clasping  her  hands. 

"  Sounds  almost  like  our  Texas  yell,"  giggled 
Tilly,  under  her  breath. 

Genevieve  was  the  first  to  reach  the  ground. 

"  Quentina  —  I  know  you're  Quentina ;  and  I'm 
Genevieve  Hartley,"  she  cried,  before  Mr.  Jones 
had  a  chance  to  speak. 

"  Yes,  this  is  Quentina,"  he  said  then,  cordially 
shaking  Genevieve's  hand.  "  And  now  I'll  let  you 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          143 

present  her  to  your  young  friends,  please,  because 
you  can  do  it  so  much  better  than  I." 

They  were  all  out  now,  on  the  ground,  hanging 
back  a  little  diffidently.  It  was  this,  perhaps,  that 
made  Cordelia  think  that  something  ought  to  be 
said  or  done.  She  came  hurriedly  forward  as  she 
caught  Genevieve's  eye  and  heard  her  own  name 
called. 

"  Yes,  I'm  Cordelia,  and  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you," 
she  stammered ;  "  and  I'm  so  glad  you're  not  fat 
and  homely,  too  —  er  —  that  is,"  she  corrected 
feverishly,  "  I  mean  —  we  didn't  any  of  us  get  you 
right,  you  know." 

"Get  me  —  right?"  Quentina  opened  her  dark 
eyes  to  their  fullest  extent. 

Cordelia  blushed,  and  tried  to  back  away.  With 
her  eyes  she  implored  Tilly  or  Elsie  to  take  her 
place. 

It  was  Genevieve  who  came  to  the  rescue. 

"  We'll  have  to  own  up,  Quentina,"  she  laughed. 
"  On  the  way  here  we  were  trying  to  picture  how 
you  look;  and  of  course  we  each  had  to  guess  a 
different  thing,  so  we  got  all  kinds  of  combinations." 

"  Yes,  but  we  didn't  get  yours,"  chuckled  Tilly, 
coming  easily  forward,  with  outstretched  hand. 

"  Indeed  we  didn't,"  echoed  Elsie,  admiringly. 

"  Why,  of  course  we  couldn't,"  stammered  Cor- 
delia, still  red  of  face.  "  We  never,  never  could 
think  of  anything  so  pretty  as  you  really  are !  " 


144  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Quentina  laughed  now,  and  raised  hurried  hands 
to  hide  the  pretty  red  that  had  flown  to  her  cheeks. 

"  Oh,  you  funny,  funny  Happy  Hexagons !  "  she 
cried,  in  her  sweet,  Southern  drawl. 

Naturally  there  could  be  nothing  stiff  about  the 
introductions,  after  that,  and  they  were  dispatched 
in  short  order,  even  to  Mr.  Jones's  pulling  the  boys 
into  line,  and  announcing: 

"  This  is  Paul,  with  the  solemn  face.  And  this 
grinning  little  chap  is  Edward  —  Ned,  for  short ; 
and  these  are  the  twins,  Bob  and  Rob." 

"Are  they  both  '  Robert '  ?  "  questioned  Tilly,  in- 
terestedly. 

Mr.  Jones  smiled. 

"  Oh,  no.  Bob  is  Bolton,  and  Rob  is  Robert. 
The  '  Rob  and  Bob '  is  Quentina's  idea  —  she  likes 
the  sound  of  it." 

"I  told  you!  —  she  is  a  rhyming  dictionary," 
whispered  Tilly,  in  an  aside  that  nearly  convulsed 
the  two  girls  that  heard  her. 

Inside  the  house  they  all  met  "  mother." 

Mother,  in  spite  of  her  lame  foot,  was  a  very 
forceful  personality.  She  was  bright  and  cheery, 
too,  and  she  made  the  girls  feel  welcome  and  at 
home  immediately. 

"  It's  so  good  of  you  to  come !  "  she  exclaimed. 
"  Poor  Quentina  has  been  shut  up  with  me  for 
weeks.  But  I'm  better,  now  —  lots  better;  and  I 
shall  soon  be  about  again." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          145 

"  I  think  it  was  very  good  of  you  to  let  us  come/' 
returned  Genevieve,  politely,  "  specially  when  you 
aren't  well  yourself.  But  we'll  try  not  to  make  you 
any  more  trouble  than  we  can't  help." 

"  Trouble,  dear  child !  I  reckon  we  don't  call  you 
trouble,"  declared  the  minister's  wife,  fervently, 
"  after  all  your  kindness  to  my  daughter,  Alice." 
Genevieve  raised  a  protesting  hand,  but  Mrs.  Jones 
went  on  smilingly.  "  And  then  that  letter  to  Quen- 
tina  —  she's  never  ceased  to  talk  and  dream  of  the 
girls  who  sent  it  to  her." 

"  Oh,  I  did  like  it  so  much  —  indeed  I  did," 
chimed  in  Quentina.  "  Why,  Genevieve,  I  made  a 
poem  on  it  —  a  lovely  poem  just  like  Tennyson's 
'  Margaret,'  you  know;  only  I  put  in  *  Hexagons/ 
and  changed  the  words  to  fit,  of  course." 

Tilly  nudged  Elsie  violently,  and  Elsie  choked  a 
spasmodic  giggle  into  a  cough;  but  Quentina  un- 
hesitatingly went  on. 

"  It  began : 

' l  O  sweet  pale  Hexagons, 

O  rare  pale  Hexagons, 
What  lit  your  eyes  with  tearful  power, 
Like  moonlight  on  a  falling  shower? 
Why  sent  you,  loves,  so  full  and  free, 
Your  letter  sweet  to  little  me? ' 

THat's  just  the  first,  you  know,"  smiled  Quentina, 
engagingly,  "  and  of  course  when  I  wrote  it  I  didn't 


146  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

know  you  weren't  really  'pale/  at  all;    but  then, 
we  can  just  call  that  part  poetic  license." 

Genevieve  laughed  frankly.  Tilly  giggled.  Cor- 
delia looked  nervously  from  them  to  Quentina. 

"I'm  sure,  that  — that's  very  pretty,"  she  fal- 
tered. 

Mrs.  Jones  smiled. 

"  I'm  afraid,  for  a  little,  you  won't  know  just 
what  to  make  of  Quentina,"  she  explained  laugh- 
ingly. "  We're  used  to  her  turning  everything  into 
jingles,  but  strangers  are  not." 

"  Oh,  mother,  I  don't,"  cried  Quentina,  reproach- 
fully. "  There's  heaps  and  heaps  of  things  that  I 
never  wrote  a  line  of  poetry  about.  But  how  could 
I  help  it?  —  that  beautiful  letter,  and  the  Happy 
Hexagons,  and  all!  It  just  wrote  itself.  I  sent  it 
East,  too,  to  a  magazine,  two  or  three  times  —  but 
they  didn't  put  it  in,"  she  added,  as  an  afterthought. 

"  Why,  what  a  shame !  "  murmured  Tilly. 

Genevieve  looked  up  quickly.  Tilly  was  wearing 
her  most  innocent,  most  angelic  expression,  but 
Genevieve  knew  very  well  the  naughtiness  behind  it. 
Quentina,  however,  accepted  it  as  pure  gold. 

"Yes,  wasn't  it?"  she  rejoined  cheerfully.  "I 
felt  right  bad,  particularly  as  I  was  going  to  send 
you  all  a  copy  when  it  was  published." 

:<  You  can  give  us  a  manuscript  copy,  Quentina. 
We  would  love  that,"  interposed  Genevieve,  hur- 
riedly. Behind  Quentina's  back  she  gave  Tilly  then 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          147 

a  frowning  shake  of  the  head  —  though  it  must  be 
confessed  that  her  dancing  eyes  rather  spoiled  the 
effect  of  it. 

"  Maybe  it's  because  her  name  rhymes  — '  Clo- 
rinda  Dorinda,' '  suggested  Tilly,  interestedly ; 
"  maybe  that's  why  she  likes  to  write  poetry  so  well." 

Mrs.  Jones  laughed. 

"  That's  what  her  father  says.  But  Clorinda  her- 
self changed  her  own  name  about  as  soon  as  she 
could  talk.  She  couldn't  manage  the  hard  '  Clo- 
rinda '  very  well,  and  I  had  a  Mexican  nurse  girl, 
Quentina,  whose  name  she  much  preferred.  So 
very  soon  she  was  calling  herself  '  Quentina,'  and 
insisting  that  every  one  else  should  do  the  same." 

"  But  it's  so  much  prettier,"  declared  the  minis- 
ter's daughter,  fervently.  "  Of  course  '  Clorinda 
Dorinda '  are  some  pretty,  because  they  rhyme  so, 
but  I  like  '  Quentina '  better.  Besides,  there  are 
lots  more  pretty  words  to  make  that  rhyme  with  — 
Florena,  Dulcina,  Rowena,  and  verbena,  you  know." 

"  And  '  you've  seen  her/ '  suggested  Tilly, 
gravely. 

Quentina  frowned  a  moment  in  thought. 

"  Y-yes,"  she  admitted ;  "  but  I  don't  think  that's 
a  very  pretty  one." 

It  was  Genevieve  this  time  who  choked  a  giggle 
into  a  cough,  and  who,  a  moment  later,  turned  very 
eagerly  to  welcome  an  interruption  in  the  person 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones. 


148  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Soon  after  this  Quentina  suggested  a  trip  through 
the  house. 

"  You  see  I  want  to  show  you  where  you're  going 
to  sleep,"  she  explained. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Jones  told  us  that,"  observed  Tilly,  as 
the  seven  girls  trooped  up  the  narrow  stairway. 
"  He  said  we  were  to  stand  up  in  the  corners." 
Tilly  spoke  with  the  utmost  gravity. 

Quentina  turned,  wide-eyed. 

"  Why,  you  couldn't !  You'd  never  sleep  a  -bit," 
she  demurred  concernedly.  "  Besides,  it  isn't  nec- 
essary." 

All  but  Tilly  and  Genevieve  tittered  audibly. 
Tilly  still  looked  the  picture  of  innocence.  Gene- 
vieve frowned  at  her  sternly,  then  stepped  forward 
and  put  her  arm  around  Quentina's  waist. 

"  Tilly  was  only  joking,  Quentina,"  she  ex- 
plained. "  When  you  know  Tilly  better  you'll 
find  she  never  by  any  chance  talks  sense  —  but 
always  nonsense,"  she  finished,  looking  at  Tilly 
severely. 

Tilly  wrinkled  up  her  nose  and  pouted;  but  her 
eyes  laughed. 

"  There,  here's  my  room,"  announced  Quentina,  a 
moment  later.  "  We've  put  a  couch  in  it,  and  if  you 
don't  mind  my  sleeping  with  you,  three  can  be  here. 
Then  across  the  hall  here  is  the  twins'  room,  and 
two  more  can  sleep  in  this;  and  Paul  and  Ned's 
room  down  there  at  the  end  of  the  hall  will  take 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  149 

the  other  two.  There!  You  see  we've  got  it  fixed 
right  well." 

"Oh,  yes  —  well  for  us;  but  how  about  the 
boys?"  cried  Genevieve.  "  Where  will  they 
sleep?" 

Quentina's  lips  parted,  but  before  the  words  were 
uttered,  a  new  thought  seemed  to  have  come  to  her. 
With  an  odd  little  glance  at  Tilly,  she  drawled  de- 
murely : 

"  Oh,  they  are  going  to  sleep  in  the  corners." 

They  all  laughed  this  time. 

"  Well,  now  we've  done  the  whole  house,  and 
we'll  take  the  yard,"  proposed  Quentina,  as,  a  little 
later,  she  led  the  way  down-stairs  and  out  of  doors. 
"  There !  aren't  my  nasturtiums  beautiful  ?  "  she 
exulted,  with  the  air  of  a  fond  mother  displaying 
her  first-born.  She  was  pointing  to  a  bed  of  strag- 
gling, puny  plants,  beautifully  free  from  weeds,  and 
showing  here  and  there  a  few  brilliant  blossoms. 

Tilly  turned  her  back  suddenly.  Cordelia  looked 
distressed.  Bertha  cried  thoughtlessly : 

"  Oh,  but  you  ought  to  see  Genevieve's,  Quentina, 
if  you  want  to  see  nasturtiums !  " 

"  Oh,  but  I  have  Carlos,"  cut  in  Genevieve,  hur- 
•riedly,  "  and  Carlos  can  make  anything  grow. 
What  a  pretty  dark  one  this  is,"  she  finished,  bend- 
ing over  one  of  the  plants. 

Quentina's  face  clouded. 

"  I  don't  suppose  they  are  much,  really,"  she  ad- 


150  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

mitted.  "But  I've  worked  so  hard  over  them! 
Father  says  the  earth  isn't  good  at  all.  I  was  so 
pleased  when  that  big  red  one  came  out!  I  made 
a  poem  on  it  right  off : 

' '  O  nasturtium,  sweet  nasturtium, 
Did  you  blossom  just  for  me? 
Where,  oh,  where  did  you  unearth  'em  — 
All  those  colors  that  I  see? ' 

That's  the  way  it  began.  Wasn't  I  lucky  to  think 
of  that  'unearth  'em?'  Besides,  it's  really  true, 
you  know.  They  do  unearth  'em,  and  'twas  such  a 
nice  rhyme  for  nasturtium.  Now  there's  petunia; 
I  think  that's  a  perfectly  beautiful  sounding  word, 
but  I've  never  been  able  to  find  a  single  thing  that 
rhymed  with  it.  I  do  love  flowers  so,"  she  added, 
after  a  moment ;  "  but  we've  never  had  many.  They 
always  burn  up,  or  dry  up,  or  get  eaten  up,  or  just 
don't  come  up  at  all.  Of  course  we've  never  had 
a  really  pretty  place.  Ministers  like  us  don't,  you 
know,"  she  finished  cheerfully. 

There  was  no  reply  to  this.  Not  one  of  the 
Happy  Hexagons  could  think  of  anything  to  say. 
For  once  even  Tilly  was  at  a  loss  for  words.  It 
was  Quentina  herself  who  broke  the  silence. 

"  Now  tell  me  all  about  the  East.  Let's  go  up 
on  the  gallery  and  sit  down.  I  do  so  want  to  go 
East  to  school ;  but  of  course  I  can't." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  151 

"  Why  not?  "asked  Bertha. 

"Oh,  it  costs  too  much,"  returned  Quentina. 
"  You  know  ministers  don't  have  money  for  such 
things."  Her  voice  was  still  impersonally  cheerful. 

"  How  old  are  you?  "  asked  Elsie,  as  they  seated 
themselves  on  chairs  and  steps. 

"  Sixteen  last  month." 

"  Oh,  I  wish  you  could  go,"  cried  Genevieve. 
"  Wouldn't  it  be  just  lovely  if  you  could  come  to 
Sunbridge  and  go  to  school  with  us !  " 

:'  Where  is  Sunbridge  ?  I  always  thought  of  it 
as  just  '  East/  you  know." 

"  In  New  Hampshire." 

"  Oh,"  said  Quentina,  with  a  sigh  of  disappoint- 
ment. "  I  hoped  it  was  in  Massachusetts,  near 
Boston,  you  know.  I  thought  Alice  said  it  was  near 
Boston." 

"  Well,  we  aren't  so  awfully  far  from  Boston," 
bridled  Tilly.  "  It  only  takes  an  hour  and  a  half 
or  less  to  go  there.  I  go  with  mother  every  little 
while  when  I'm  home." 

Quentina  sprang  to  her  feet. 

"  Boston !  Oh,  girls,  you  don't  know  how  I  want 
^o  see  Boston,  and  Paul  Revere's  grave,  and  the 
Common,  and  the  old  State  House,  and  Bunker 
Hill,  and  that  lovely  North  Church  where  they 
hung  the  lantern,  you  know. 

'  Listen,  my  children,  and  you  shall  hear 
Of  the  midnight  ride  of  Paul  Revere,' " 


15£  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

she  began  to  chant  impressively.     "  Oh,  don't  you 
just  love  that  poem?  " 

"Who  was  Paul  Revere ?"  asked  Tilly,  pleas- 
antly. 

"Paul    Revere!"    exclaimed    Quentina,    plainly, 
shocked.     "  Who  was  Paul  Revere! " 

"  Tilly !  "  scolded  Genevieve,  as  soon  as  she  could 
command  her  voice.  "  Quentina,  that's  only  some 
of  Tilly's  nonsense.  Tilly  knows  very  well  who 
Paul  Revere  was." 

"Yes,  of  course  she  does;  and  we  all  do,"  in- 
terposed Elsie  Martin.  "  But  I'll  own  right  up,  I 
don't  know  half  as  much  about  all  those  historical 
things  and  places  as  I  ought  to." 

"  Neither  do  I,"  chimed  in  Bertha.  "  Just  be- 
cause they're  right  there  handy,  and  we  can  go  any 
time,  we  —  " 

"  We  don't  go  any  time,"  laughed  Alma  Lane, 
finishing  the  sentence  for  her. 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Elsie.  "  We  had  a  cousin  with 
us  for  two  weeks  last  summer,  and  she  just  doted 
on  old  relics  and  graveyards.  She  made  us  take  her 
into  Boston  'most  every  day,  and  she  asked  all  sorts 
of  questions  which  I  couldn't  answer." 

"  Yes,  I  know ;    but  excuse  me,  please/'  put  in ' 
Tilly,  flippantly.     "  I  don't  want  any  graveyards 
and  relics  in  mine." 

"  That's  slang,  Tilly/'  reproved  Cordelia. 

"  Is  it  ?  "  murmured  Tilly,  serenely. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  153 

"  Besides,  people  come  from  miles  and  miles  just 
to  see  those  things  that  we  neglect,  right  at  our 
doors,  almost." 

"  But  how  can  you  neglect  them  ?  "  remonstrated 
Quentina.  "  Why,  if  I  ever  go  to  Boston,  I 
sha'n't  sleep  nor  eat  till  I've  seen  Paul  Revere's 
grave!" 

"  Well,  I  shouldn't  sleep  nor  eat  if  I  did/'  shud- 
dered Tilly. 

'  You  mean  you've  never  seen  it  ?  "  gasped  Quen- 
tina, unbelievingly. 

"Guilty!"  Tilly  held  up  her  hand  unblush- 
ingly. 

"  Never  you  mind,  Quentina,"  soothed  Genevieve. 
"  We  are  interested  in  those  things,  really." 

"  Then  you  have  seen  it?  " 

"  Er  —  n-no,  not  that  one,"  confessed  Genevieve, 
coloring.  "  But  I've  seen  heaps  of  other  graves 
there,"  she  assured  her  hopefully,  as  if  graves  were 
the  only  open  door  to  Quentina's  favor. 

"  Oh,  you've  had  such  chances,"  envied  Quen- 
tina. "  Just  think  —  Boston !  You  said  you  were 
near  Boston  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes." 

"  Less  than  two  hours  away?  " 

"Why,  yes,"  exclaimed  Tilly,  "I  told  you. 
We're  less  than  an  hour  and  a  half  away." 

"  And  are  you  a  D.  A.  R.,  and  Colonial  Dames, 
and  Mayflower  Society  members,  and  all  that  ?  " 


154  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Dear  me !  I  don't  know,1"  laughed  Genevieve. 
"Why?" 

"  And  do  you  read  the  Atlantic  Monthly,  and  eat 
beans  Saturday  night,  and  fishballs  Sunday  morn- 
ing?" still  hurried  on  Quentina.  "You  don't  any 
of  you  wear  glasses,  and  I  don't  think  you  speak 
very  low." 

"  Anything  else  ?  "  asked  Tilly  politely. 

"  Oh,  yes,  lots  of  things,"  answered  Quentina, 
"  but  I've  forgotten  most  of  them." 

"Quentina,  what  are  you  talking  about?" 
laughed  Genevieve. 

Quentina  smiled  oddly,  then  she  sighed. 

"  It  wasn't  true,  of  course.  I  knew  it  couldn't 
be." 

"What  wasn't  true?" 

"  Something  I  found  in  one  of  father's  church 
papers  about  Rules  for  Living  in  New  England.  I 
cut  it  out.  Wait  a  minute  —  it's  here,  somewhere !  " 
And,  to  the  girls'  amazement,  she  dived  into  a  pocket 
at  the  side  of  her  dress,  pulling  out  several  clippings 
which  seemed,  mostly,  to  be  verse.  One  was  prose, 
and  it  was  on  this  she  pounced.  "  Here  it  is. 
Listen."  And  she  read: 

'  Rules  for  Living  in  New  England.  You  must 
be  descended  from  the  Puritans,  and  should  belong 
to  the  Mayflower  Society,  or  be  a  D.  A.  R.,  a  Colo- 
nial Dame,  or  an  S.  A.  R.  You  must  graduate  from 
Harvard,  or  Radcliffe,  and  must  disdain  all  other 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  155 

colleges.  You  must  quote  Emerson,  read  the  Atlan- 
tic Monthly,  and  swear  by  the  Transcript.  You 
must  wear  glasses,  speak  in  a  low  voice,  eat  beans 
on  Saturday  night,  and  fishballs  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing. Always  you  must  carry  with  you  a  green  bag, 
and  you  should  be  a  professional  man,  or  woman, 
preferably  of  the  literary  variety.  You  should  live 
not  farther  away  from  Boston  than  two  hours'  ride, 
and  of  course  you  will  be  devoted  to  tombstones, 
relics,  and  antiques.  You  may  tolerate  Europe,  but 
you  must  ignore  the  West.  You  must  be  slow  of 
speech,  dignified  of  conduct,  and  serene  of  temper. 
You  must  never  be  surprised,  nor  display  undue 
emotion.  Above  all,  you  must  be  cultured/ 

"  Now  you  see  you  haven't  done  all  those  things/' 
she  declared,  as  she  finished  the  article. 

"  I  reckon  there  are  a  few  omissions  —  specially 
on  my  part,"  laughed  Genevieve. 

"  But  you  are  happy  there  ?  " 

"Indeed  I  am!" 

"  How  I  do  wish  I  could  go,"  sighed  Quentina. 
"  I  should  love  Boston,  I  know.  Alice  did  — 
though  she  still  liked  Texas  better." 

"  Well,  I  know  Boston  would  love  you,"  chuckled 
Tilly,  unexpectedly.  "  Girls,  wouldn't  she  be  a  pic- 
nic in  Sunbridge?  She'd  be  more  of  a  circus  than 
you  were,  Genevieve !  " 

"  Thank  you,"  bowed  Genevieve,  with  mock  stiff- 
ness. 


156  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Oh,  we  loved  you  right  away  —  and  we  should 
Ouentina,  of  course." 

"  Thank  you,"  bowed  Quentina,  in  her  turn, 
laughingly. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  157 


CHAPTER    XII 

THE   OPENING   OF  A    BARREL' 

IT  was  a  merry  afternoon  and  evening  that  the 
Happy  Hexagons  spent  at  Quentina's  home,  and  it 
was  still  a  merrier  time  that  they  had  getting  settled 
for  the  night.  Even  Tilly  said  at  last: 

"  Well,  Quentina,  it's  lucky  a  lame  foot  doesn't 
have  ears.  I  don't  know  what  your  mother  will  say 
to  us!" 

"  Only  fancy  if  Miss  Jane  were  here,"  shivered 
Genevieve. 

It  was  just  as  the  family  were  finishing  breakfast 
the  next  morning  that  there  came  a  knock  at  the 
door,  and  a  man  rolled  in  a  large  barrel. 

"  Oh,  it's  the  missionary  barrel  —  our  barrel  from 
the  East!"  cried  Quentina.  "I  wonder  now  — 
what  do  you  suppose  there  is  in  it?  " 

"  There  isn't  anything,  I  reckon,  except  old 
things,"  piped  up  Rob,  shrilly. 

Mrs.  Jones  colored  painfully. 

"  Robert,  my  son !  "  she  remonstrated,  in  evident 
distress. 

"  Well,  mother,  you  know  there  isn't  —  most 
generally,"  defended  Robert. 


158  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  And  if  they  are  new,  they're  the  sort  of  things 
we  couldn't  ever  use,"  added  Ned. 

"  Boys,  boys,  that  will  do,"  commanded  the  minis- 
ter, quickly. 

The  minister,  with  Paul's  help,  had  the  barrel 
nearly  open  by  this  time. 

"It  isn't  from  Sunbridge,  is  it?"  asked  Gene- 
vieve. 

"  No  —  though  we  get  them  from  there  some- 
times; but  this  is  from  a  little  town  in  Vermont," 
replied  Mrs.  Jones.  "  We  had  a  letter  last  week 
from  the  minister.  He  —  he  apologized  a  little ; 
said  that  times  had  been  hard,  and  that  they'd  had 
trouble  to  fill  it.  As  if  it  wasn't  hard  enough  for  us 
to  take  it,  without  that !  "  she  finished  bitterly,  with 
almost  a  sob. 

"  Rita,  my  dear!  "  murmured  her  husband,  in  a 
low,  distressed  voice. 

Mrs.  Jones  dashed  quick  tears  from  her  eyes. 

"  I  know ;  I  don't  mean  to  be  ungrateful.  But  — 
times  have  been  a  little  hard  —  with  us! " 

Silent,  and  a  little  awed,  the  Happy  Hexagons 
stood  at  one  side.  Genevieve,  especially,  looked  out 
from  troubled  eyes.  Very  slowly  Genevieve  was 
waking  up  to  the  fact  that  not  every  one  in  the  world 
had  luxuries,  or  even  what  she  would  call  ordinary 
comforts  of  living.  Mrs.  Jones,  seeing  her  face, 
spoke  hurriedly. 

"There,  there,  girls,  please  forget  what  I  said! 


SIX  STAE  RANCH  159 

It  was  very  kind  of  those  good  people  to  send  the 
barrel  —  very  kind ;  and  I  am  sure  we  shall  find  in 
it  just  what  we  want." 

"  I  know  what  you  hope  will  be  there,"  cried  Bob, 
"  a  new  coat  for  Father,  and  a  dress  for  you,  and 
some  underclothes  for  us  boys.  I  heard  you  say  so 
last  night." 

"  Yes ;  and  Quentina  wants  a  ribbon  —  not  dirty 
ones/'  observed  Rob. 

"  Robert!  "  cried  Quentina,  very  red  of  face. 
"  You  know  I  don't  expect  anything  of  the  sort." 

The  barrel  was  open  now,  and  eagerly  the 
family  gathered  around  it.  Even  Mrs.  Jones's  chair 
was  drawn  forward  so  that  she,  too,  might  peep 
into  it. 

First  there  was  a  great  quantity  of  newspapers 
—  the  people  had,  indeed,  found  trouble  to  fill  it, 
evidently.  Next  came  a  pincushion  —  faded  pink 
satin,  frilled  with  not  over-clean  white  lace. 

"  I  can  use  the  lace  for  a  collar,"  cried  Quentina, 
taking  prompt  possession  of  the  cushion.  "  I'm 
right  glad  of  this !  " 

A  picture  came  next  in  a  tarnished  gilt  frame  — 
evidently  somebody's  early  attempts  to  paint  nastur- 
tiums in  oil. 

"  There's  a  rival  for  your  posies  out  in  the  yard," 
murmured  Tilly  in  Quentina's  ear. 

A  pair  of  skates  was  pulled  out  next,  then  three 
dolls,  one  minus  an  arm. 


160  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  These  might  be  good  —  on  ice/'  remarked 
Paul,  who  had  picked  up  the  skates. 

"  Do  you  ever  have  any  ice  to  skate  on,  here?  " 
asked  Bertha. 

"  Not  in  the  part  of  Texas  I've  ever  been  in,"  he 
•  sighed. 

Mrs.  Jones  was  ruefully  smoothing  the  one-armed 
doll's  flimsy  dress. 

"I  —  I  told  them  there  were  no  little  girls  in  the 
family,"  she  said,  her  worried  eyes  seeking  her  hus- 
band's face.  "  It  —  it's  all  right,  of  course ;  only 
—  only  these  dolls  did  take  space." 

Some  magazines  came  next,  and  a  few  old  books, 
upon  which  the  boys  fell  greedily  —  though  the 
books  they  soon  threw  to  one  side  as  if  they  were  of 
little  interest. 

Undergarments  appeared  then,  plainly  much 
worn  and  patched.  To  Genevieve  they  looked  quite 
impossible.  She  almost  cried  when  she  saw  how 
eagerly  Mrs.  Jones  gathered  the  motley  pile  into  her 
arms  and  began  to  sort  them  out  with  little  ex- 
clamations of  satisfaction. 

Next  in  the  barrel  were  found  an  ink-stained 
apron,  a  bath-robe,  nearly  new  —  which  plainly 
owed  its  presence  to  its  hideous  colors  —  two  or 
three  tin  dishes  (not  new),  a  harmonica,  a  box  con- 
taining a  straw  hat  trimmed  with  drooping  blue 
bows,  several  fans,  a  box  of  dominoes,  a  'pocket- 
knife  with  a  broken  blade,  several  pairs  of  new  hose, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  161 

marked  plainly  "  seconds,"  some  sheets  and  pillow- 
cases (half-worn,  but  hailed  with  joy  by  Mrs. 
Jones),  a  kimono,  an  assortment  of  men's  half- 
worn  shoes  —  pounced  upon  at  once  by  Paul  and 
his  father,  and  not  abandoned  until  it  was  found 
that  only  two  were  mates,  and  only  one  of  these 
good  for  much  wear. 

It  was  at  this  point  that  there  came  a  muffled 
shout  from  Ned,  whose  head  was  far  down  in  the 
barrel. 

"  Here's  a  package  •*»-  a  big  one  —  and  it's 
marked  '  dress  for  Mrs.  Jones/  Mother,  you  did 
get  it,  after  all ! "  he  cried,  tumbling  the  package 
into  his  mother's  lap. 

Tremblingly  half  a  dozen  pairs  of  hands  at- 
tempted to  untie  the  strings  and  to  unwrap  the 
coverings;  then,  across  Mrs.  Jones's  lap  there  lay 
a  tawdry  dress  of  pale-blue  silk,  spotted  and  soiled. 
Pinned  to  it  was  a  note  in  a  scrawling  feminine 
hand :  "  This  will  wash  and  make  over  nicely,  I 
think,  if  you  can't  wear  it  just  as  it  is." 

"  We  have  so  many  chances  to  wear  light-blue 
silk,  too,"  was  all  that  Mrs.  Jones  said. 

In  the  bottom  of  the  barrel  were  a  few  new 
towels,  very  coarse,  and  some  tablecloths  and  small, 
fringed  napkins,  also  very  coarse. 

"  Well,  I'm  sure,  these  are  handy/'  stammered 
the  minister,  who  had  not  found  his  coat. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  answered  his  wife,  wearily ;  "  only  — 


162  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

well,  it  so  happens  that  every  box  for  the  last  five 
years  has  held  tea-napkins  —  and  I  don't  give  many 
teas,  you  know,  dear." 

Genevieve  choked  back  a  sob. 

"I  —  I  never  saw  such  a  —  a  horrid  thing  in 
'all  my  life,  as  that  barrel  was,"  she  stormed  hotly. 
"  I  don't  see  what  folks  were  thinking  of  —  to  send 
such  things ! " 

"  They  weren't  thinking,  my  dear,  and  that's  just 
what  the  trouble  was,"  answered  Mrs.  Jones,  gently. 
"  They  didn't  think,  nor  understand.  Besides,  there 
are  very  many  nice  things  here  that  we  can  use 
beautifully.  There  always  are,  in  every  box,  only 
—  of  course,  some  things  aren't  so  useful." 

"  I  should  say  not !  "  snapped  Genevieve. 

"  Well,  I  didn't  suppose  anything  could  make  me 
glad  because  Aunt  Kate  makes  over  the  girls'  things 
for  me,"  spoke  up  Elsie  Martin ;  "  but  something 
has  now.  She  can't  send  them  in  any  missionary 
boxes,  anyhow !  " 

Mrs.  Jones  laughed,  though  she  looked  still  more 
disturbed. 

"  But,  girls,  dear  girls,  please  don't  say  such 
things,"  she  expostulated.  "  We  are  very,  very 
grateful  —  indeed  we  are;  and  it  is  right  kind  of 
them  to  remember  us  far-away  missionaries  with 
boxes  and  barrels !  " 

"  '  Missionary ' !  "  sputtered  Genevieve.  "  '  Mis- 
sionary ' !  I  should  think  somebody  had  better  be 


SIX  STAR  EANCH  163 

missionary  to  them,  and  teach  them  what  to  send. 
Dolls  and  skates,  indeed !  " 

"  But,  my  dear,"  smiled  Mrs.  Jones,  "  those 
might  have  been  just  the  things  —  in  some  places; 
and  besides,  some  of  the  boxes  are  —  are  better  than 
this.  Indeed  they  are !  " 

It  was  at  this  point  that  Cordelia  came  forward 
hurriedly,  and  touched  Mrs.  Jones's  arm.  Her  face 
was  a  little  white  and  strained  looking. 

"  Mrs.  Jones,"  she  faltered,  "  I  think  I  ought  to 
tell  you.  I'm  a  minister's  niece,  and  I've  seen  lots 
of  missionary  boxes  packed.  I  know  just  how  they 
do  it,  too.  I  know  just  how  thoughtless  they  —  I 
mean  we  —  are;  and  I  just  wanted  to  say  that  I'm 
very,  very  sure  the  next  time  we  pack  a  box  for 
any  missionary,  we'll  —  we'll  see  that  our  old  shoes 
are  mates,  and  that  we  don't  send  dolls  to  boys !  " 

There  was  a  shout  of  gleeful  appreciation  from 
the  boys,  but  there  were  only  troubled  sighs  and 
frowns  on  the  part  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones. 

"  Dear  me !  I  —  I  wish  the  barrel  hadn't  come 
when  you  wrere  here,"  regretted  the  minister's  wife ; 
"  for  indeed  the  things  are  all  very,  very  nice.  In- 
deed they  are !  " 

"  And  now  let's  go  out  to  the  flowers,"  proposed 
Quentina.  "  Maybe  a  new  nasturtium  has  blos- 
somed." 

All  but  one  of  the  girls  had  left  the  room  when 
Mr.  Jones  felt  a  timid  touch  on  his  arm. 


164  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Mr.  Jones,  could  I  speak  to  you  —  just  a 
minute,  please  ?  "  asked  a  low  voice.  "  I'm  Cordelia 
Wilson,  you  know." 

"  Why,  certainly,  Miss  Cordelia  I  What  can  I 
do  for  you  ?  "  he  answered  genially,  leading  the  way 
to  the  tiny  study  off  the  sitting  room. 

"  Well,  I'm  not  sure  you  can  do  anything,"  re- 
plied Cordelia,  with  hesitating  truthfulness.  "  But 
I  wanted  to  ask :  do  you  know  anybody  in  Texas  by 
the  name  of  Mr.  John  Sanborn,  or  Mrs.  'Lizzie.  Hig- 
gins,  or  Mr.  Lester  Goodwin,  or  Mr.  James  Hunt?  " 

The  minister  looked  a  little  surprised, 

"  N-no,  I  can't  say  that  I  do,"  he  said,  slowly. 

Cordelia's  countenance  fell. 

"Oh,  I'm  so  sorry !  You  see  I  thought  —  being 
a  minister  out  here,  so,  —  you  might  know  them." 

"  But  —  Texas  is  quite  a  large  state,"  he  re- 
minded her,  with  a  smile. 

"I  know,"  sighed  the  girl.  "I've  found  that 
out." 

"  Are  these  people  friends  of  yours?  " 

"  Oh,  no ;  they're  just  a  son,  and  a  brother,  and 
a  cousin,  and  a  runaway  daughter  that  I'm  looking, 
up  for  Sunbridge  people." 

"  Oh,  indeed !  "  The  minister  hoped  his  voice 
was  politely  steady. 

"  Yes,  sir.  Of  course  I  haven't  had  a  chance  to 
ask  many  people,  yet  —  only  one  or  two  of  the  cow- 
boys. One  of  them  was  named  '  John/  but  he  wasn't 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  165 

my  John  —  I  mean,  he  wasn't  the  right  John,"  cor- 
rected Cordelia  with  a  pink  blush. 

The  minister  coughed  a  little  spasmodically  be- 
hind his  hand.  As  he  did  not  speak  Cordelia  went 
on,  her  eyes  a  little  wistful. 

c<  Would  you  be  willing,  please,  to  take  those 
names  down  on  paper,  Mr.  Jones  ?  " 

"  Why,  certainly,  Miss  Cordelia,''  agreed  the 
man,  reaching  for  his  notebook. 

"  You  see  you  are  a  minister,  and  you  do  meet 
people,  so  you  might  find  them.  I'd  be  so  glad  if 
you  could,  or  if  I  could.  They're  all  needed  very 
much  —  indeed  they  are.  You  see,  Hermit  Joe  is 
so  lonesome  for  his  son,  and  Mrs.  Snow  so  worried 
about  Lizzie,  and  Mrs.  Granger  has  lost  her  hus- 
band, so  she  hasn't  anybody  left  but  her  cousin,  now, 
and  Miss  Sally  is  so  very  poor  and  needs  her  brother 
so  much." 

"  Of  course,  of  course,"  murmured  the  minister. 

A  few  moments  later  his  notebook  bore  this 
entry,  which  had  been  made  under  Cordelia's  care- 
ful direction : 

"  Wanted:  —  Information  about  — 

John  Sanborn    .      .  whose  father    is  lonesome, 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Higgins  mother  "  worried, 

Lester  Goodwin       .  cousin     :<  a  widow, 

and 
James  Hunt      .      .       "      sister      "  very  poor." 


166  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  If  I  find  any  of  these  people  I'll  convey  all  your 
messages  to  the  best  of  my  ability,"  promised  the 
minister. 

"  Thank  you.  Then  I'll  go  out  now  to  the  nas- 
turtiums," sighed  the  girl,  contentedly. 

All  too  soon  the  visit  came  to  a  close,  and  all  too 
soon  Carlos  appeared  with  the  carriage.  Then  came 
hurried  good-byes,  full  of  laughter,  tears,  and  prom- 
ises, with  all  the  Jones  family  except  the  mother, 
grouped  upon  the  steps  —  and  the  mother's  chair 
was  close  to  the  window. 

"  Oh,  Happy  Hexagons,  Happy  Hexagons, 
Come  again  another  day. 
Oh,  don't  forget  me,  Happy  Hexagons, 
When  you  are  so  far  away! " 

chanted  Quentina,  waving  one  handkerchief,  and 
wiping  her  eyes  with  another. 

"  Girls,  quick !  —  give  her  the  Texas  yell,"  cried 
Genevieve  in  a  low  voice ;  "  only  say  '  Quentina  ' 
at  the  end  instead  of  my  name.  Now,  remember  — 
1  Quentina  ' !  "  she  finished  excitedly. 

"Good!"  exulted  Tilly.  "Of  course  we  will! 
Now  count,  Cordelia." 

A  moment  later,  Quentina's  amazed,  delighted 
ears  heard: 

"Texas,  Texas,  Tex  — Tex  — Texas! 

Texas,  Texas,  Rah!  Rah!  Rah! 
Quentina!" 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          167 

Then,  amidst  a  chorus  of  shouts  and  laughter,  the 
carriage  drove  away. 

"  Well,  young  ladies/'  demanded  Mr.  Hartley, 
when  the  tired  but  happy  Hexagon  Club  trooped  up 
the  front  steps  of  the  ranch  house  late  that  after- 
noon, "  how  about  it  ?  What  did  you  think  of  the 
fair  Quentina?  " 

"  Think  of  her !  O  Quentina,  you  should  'seen 
her !  "  sang  Tilly,  in  so  perfect  an  imitation  of  the 
minister's  daughter  that  the  girls  broke  into  peals 
of  laughter. 

"  She's  lovely,  Father  —  honestly,  she  is,"  de- 
clared Genevieve,  as  soon  as  she  could  speak. 

"And  so  pretty!"  added  Cordelia,  "and  has 
such  a  sweet,  slow  way  of  speaking !  " 

"  Such  lovely  dark  eyes !  "  —  this  from  Alma. 

"  And  such  glorious  hair  —  all  golden  and 
kinky!  "  breathed  Bertha. 

"  And  she  looks  just  as  pretty  in  her  high- 
necked  apron  as  she  does  in  her  white  dress,"  cried 
Elsie. 

"  Well,  well,  upon  my  soul !  What  is  this  young 
lady  —  a  paragon?"  laughed  Mr.  Hartley,  raising 
his  eyebrows. 

"  I'll  tell  you  just  what  she  is,  sir,"  vouchsafed 
Tilly,  confidentially.  "  She  is  a  rhyming  dictionary, 
Mr.  Hartley,  just  as  I  said  in  the  first  place;  and 
I'd  be  willing  to  guarantee  any  time  that  she'd  find 


168  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

a  rhyme  for  any  word  in  this  or  any  other  language 
within  two  seconds  after  the  gun  is  fired.  If  you 
don't  believe  it,  you  should  hear  her  *  unearth  'em ' 
on  the  '  nasturtium/  ' 

"Tilly,  Tilly  1"  choked  Genevieve,  convulsively. 

"  Oh,  but  she  said  she  couldn't  find  one  for 
petunia,"  broke  in  the  exact  Cordelia. 

"  You  don't  mean  she  actually  writes  —  poetry! " 
ejaculated  Mrs.  Kennedy. 

"Writes  it!  — my  dear  lady!"  (Tilly  had  as- 
sumed her  most  superior  air.)  "  If  that  were  all! 
But  she  talks  it,  day  in  and  day  out.  Everything 
is  a  poem,  from  a  letter  to  a  scraggly  nasturtium. 
She  carries  an  unfailing  supply  of  her  own  verses  in 
her  head,  and  of  other  people's  in  her  pocket.  If 
you  ask  for  the  butter  at  the  table,  you're  never 
sure  she  won't  strike  an  attitude,  and  chant: 

"  '  Butter,  Butter,  Oh,  good-by! 

Better  butter  ne'er  did  —  er  —  fly.' " 

"  I  think  I  should  like  to  see  this  young  person," 
observed  Mrs.  Kennedy,  when  the  laughter  at 
Tilly's  sally  had  subsided. 

"  Maybe  you  will  sometime.  She  wants  to  go 
East,"  rejoined  Tilly. 

"She  does?    What  for?" 

"  Principally  to  see  Paul  Revere's  grave,  I  be- 
lieve; incidentally  to  go  to  school." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          169 

"  Oh,  I  wish  she  could  come  East  to  school !  "  ex- 
claimed Genevieve. 

"  So  do  I  —  if  she'd  come  to  Sunbridge,"  laughed 
Tilly.  "  She  takes  things  even  more  literally  than 
Cordelia  does.  Sometime  I'm  going  to  tell  her  the 
moon  is  made  of  green  cheese,  and  ask  her  if  she 
doesn't  want  a  piece.  Ten  to  one  if  she  won't  an- 
swer that  she  doesn't  care  for  cheese,  thank  you. 
Oh,  I  wouldn't  ask  to  go  to  another  show  for  a 
whole  year  if  she  should  come  to  Sunbridge!  " 

"  Tilly !  I  don't  think  you  ought  to  talk  like 
that,"  remonstrated  Cordelia.  "  One  would  think 
that  Quentina  was  a  —  a  vaudeville  show." 

Tilly  considered  this  gravely. 

"Why,  Cordelia,  do  you  know?  —  I  believe  that 
is  just  what  she  is.  Thank  you  so  much  for  think- 
ing of  it." 

"Tilly!"  gasped  Cordelia,  horrified. 

Genevieve  frowned. 

"  Honestly,  Tilly,  I  don't  think  you  are  quite 
fair,"  she  demurred.  "  Quentina  isn't  one  bit  of 
a  show.  She's  sweet  and  dear  and  lovely,  with 
just  some  funny  ways  to  make  her  specially  inter- 
esting." 

"All  right;  we'll  let  it  go  at  that,  then,"  re- 
torted Tilly,  merrily.  "  She's  just  specially  inter- 
esting." 

"  She  must  be,"  smiled  Mrs.  Kennedy.  "  In  fact, 
I  should  very  much  like  to  see  her,  and  —  I  don't 


170  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

believe  Tilly  means  her  comments  to  be  quite  so 
unkind  as  perhaps  they  sound,"  she  finished  with  a 
gentle  emphasis  that  was  not  lost  on  her  young 
audience. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  171 


CHAPTER    XIII 

THE   PRAIRIE AND   MOONLIGHT 

ONE  by  on?  the  long,  .happy  July  days  slipped 
away.  There  was  no  lack  of  amusement,  no  time 
that  hung  heavy  —  there  was  so  much  to  be  seen,, 
so  much  to  be  done ! 

Very  soon  after  the  trip  to  Quentina's  home,  Mr. 
Tim  produced  from  somewhere  five  'stout  little 
ponies,  warranted  to  be  broken  to  "  skirts  "  — • 
which  Genevieve  had  said  would  be  absolutely  nec- 
essary, as  the  girls  would  never  consent  to  ride 
astride. 

It  was  a  nervous  morning,  however,  for  five  of 
the  Happy  Hexagons  when  the  horses  were  led  up 
to  the  door.  Cordelia  was  frankly  white-faced  and 
trembling.  Even  Tilly  looked  a  little  doubtful,  as 
she  said,  trying  to  speak  with  her  usual  lightness : 

"  Oh,  we  know,  of  course,  Genevieve,  that  these 
little  beasts  won't  teeter  up  and  down  like  Reddy's 
broncho;  and  we  hope  they'll  bear  in  mind  that 
Westerners  ought  to  be  politely  gentle  with  East- 
erners, who  aren't  brought  up  to  ride  jumping  jacks. 
But  still,  we  can't  help  wondering." 

"  Genevieve,  I  —  I  really  think  I  won't  ride  at 


172  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

all  to-day,"  stammered  Cordelia,  faintly;  "that  is, 
if  you  don't  mind." 

"  But  I  do  mind,"  rejoined  Genevieve,  looking 
much  distressed.  "  Of  course,  girls,  I  wouldn't 
urge  you  against  your  will,  for  the  world;  but  we 
can't  have  half  the  fun  here  unless  you  ride,  for  we 
go  everywhere,  'most,  in  the  saddle.  And,  honestly, 
Mr.  Tim  says  these  horses  are  regular  cows. 
Father  told  him  he  must  get  steady  ones.  Won't 
you  please  —  try  it  ?  It  will  break  my  heart,  if  you 
don't.  You  see  I've  said  so  much  to  the  boys,  since 
I  came,  about  your  riding !  They  were  so  surprised 
to  think  you  could  ride,  and  I  was  so  proud  to  say 
you  did!" 

"  You  —  you  were  ?  "  stammered  Cordelia. 

"  Yes." 

"Well,  young  ladies,"  called  Mr.  Tim,  at  that 
moment,  "  here's  the  steadiest  little  string  of  horses 
going !  Who'll  have  the  first  pick  ?  " 

"  I  will,"  cried  Cordelia,  wetting  her  dry  lips,  and 
speaking  with  a  stern  determination  that  yet  did  not 
quite  hide  the  shake  in  her  voice.  "  That  is  —  I 
don't  care  about  my  pick,  but  I'm  going  to  ride  — 
right  away  —  quick !  "  she  finished,  determined  that 
at  least  Genevieve  should  not  be  ashamed  —  of 
her. 

After  all,  it  was  only  the  first  five  minutes  that 
were  hard.  The  little  horses  were  politeness  itself, 
and  seemed  fully  to  realize  the  responsibilities  of 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  173 

their  position.  The  girls,  determined  not  to  shame 
Genevieve,  acquitted  themselves  with  a  grace  and 
ease  that  brought  forth  an  appreciative  cheer  from 
the  boys  as  the  young  people  rode  away. 

"  Now  I  feel  as  if  I  were  in  Texas/'  exulted 
Tilly,  drawing  in  a  full  breath  of  the  fresh,  early 
morning  air. 

"  I'm  so  glad  —  so  glad  we're  all  in  Texas,"  cried 
Genevieve,  looking  about  her  with  shining  eyes. 

According  to  Tilly,  there  was  always  "  something 
doing  "  at  the  ranch  house.  The  boys  —  much  to 
their  own  surprise,  it  must  be  confessed  —  had 
adopted  "  the  whole  bunch  "  (as  Long  John  called 
the  young  people),  and  were  never  too  busy  or  too 
tired  to  display  their  skill  as  ropers  or  riders.  Al- 
ways there  was  the  fascinating  morning  start  to 
work  to  watch,  and  frequently  there  was  in  the 
afternoon  some  wild  little  broncho  that  needed  to 
be  broken  to  the  saddle,  or  to  be  trained  to  stop, 
wheel  instantly,  stand  motionless,  or  to  start  at  top 
speed,  according  to  his  master's  wishes;  all  of 
which  was  a  never-ending  source  of  delight  to  un- 
accustomed Eastern  eyes. 

For  pleasant  days  there  were,  too,  rides,  drives 
to  Bolo,  picnic  luncheons,  and  frolics  of  every  sort. 
For  rainy  days  there  were  games  and  music  in  the 
living  room,  to  say  nothing  of  letters  from  home  to 
be  read  and  answered.  Most  of  the  twilights  — 


174  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

if  fair  —  were  spent  by  everybody  on  the  front 
gallery  watching  the  golden  ball  in  the  west  set  the 
whole  prairie,  as  well  as  the  sky  itself,  on  fire.  In 
the  early  afternoon,  of  course,  there  was  the  in- 
evitable siesta  —  Tilly's  abhorred  "  naps." 

There  were  callers  at  the  ranch  house,  too. 
Sometimes  a  cowboy  from  a  neighboring  ranch 
came  to  look  after  a  lost  pony,  or  to  see  if  his  cattle 
had  strayed  off  the  range  through  a  broken  fence. 
Sometimes  a  hunter  or  trapper  would  stop  for  a 
chat  on  his  way  to  or  from  Bolo.  Once  Susie 
Billings  in  her  khaki  suit  and  cowboy  hat  came  to 
spend  the  day;  and  once,  on  Sunday,  Mr.  Jones 
came  to  hold  service  again.  Much  to  the  girls'  dis- 
appointment, Quentina  did  not  come  with  him,. 
The  mother's  foot  was  better,  Mr.  Jones  said,  but 
the  twins  had  come  down  with  the  whooping  cough, 
and  poor  Quentina  could  not  be  spared  to  leave 
home. 

Sometimes  a  score  of  men  and  teams  and  cow- 
boys with  their  strings  of  horses  would  pass  on  their 
way  to  a  round-up;  and  once  two  huge  prairie 
schooners  "  docked  in  the  yard,"  as  Tilly  termed 
it;  and  their  weary  owners,  at  Mr.  Hartley's  in- 
vitation, stopped  for  a  night's  rest. 

That  was,  indeed,  a  time  of  great  excitement  for 
the  Happy  Hexagons,  for  under  Genevieve's  fear- 
less leadership  they  promptly  made  friends  with  the 
sallow-faced  women  and  the  forlorn  children,  and 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  175 

soon  were  shown  the  mysteries  of  the  inside  of  the 
wagon-homes. 

"  Mercy !  it  looks  just  like  play  housekeeping ; 
doesn't  it?  "  gurgled  Tilly. 

"  But  it  isn't  play  at  all,  my  dear,"  replied  one 
of  the  women,  a  little  sadly.  "  Seems  now  like  as 
if  I  ever  had  a  home  again  what  stayed  put,  that 
I'd  be  happy,  no  matter  where  'twas.  Ain't  that 
the  way  you  feel,  Mis'  Higgins?" 

"  Yes,"  nodded  the  other  woman,  dully,  from 
her  perch  on  the  driver's  seat.  "  But  I  reckon  my 
man  ain't  never  goin'  ter  quit  wheelin',  now." 

Even  Genevieve  seemed  scarcely  to  know  what 
to  reply  to  this;  but  a  few  minutes  later  she  had 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  several 
children  hanging  about  their  mothers'  skirts. 
Laughingly,  then,  the  young  people  trooped  away 
together  to  look  at  the  flowers  —  all  but  Cordelia 
Wilson.  Cordelia  remained  behind  with  the  two 
women. 

"  Please  —  I  beg  your  pardon  —  but  did  you  say 
your  name  was  *  Mrs.  Higgins '  ? "  she  asked 
eagerly,  turning  to  the  woman  on  the  driver's 
seat. 

"Why,   no  —  I   didn't,   Miss.      But   that's  my 


name." 


*  Yes,  I  know ;  'twas  the  other  lady  who  called 
you  that,  of  course;  but  it  doesn't  matter,  so  long 
as  I  know  'tis  that." 


176  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Oh,  don't  it?"  murmured  the  woman,  a  little 
curiously. 

"  No ;  and  —  you  came  from  New  Hampshire, 
once,  didn't  you  ?  " 

An  odd  look  crossed  the  woman's  face. 

"  Well,  I  ain't  sayin'  that." 

"  But  you  did  —  please  say  that  you  did,"  begged 
Cordelia.  "  You  see,  I'm  so  anxious  to  find  you!  " 

A  look  that  was  almost  terror  came  to  the 
woman's  eyes  now. 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  what  you're  talkin'  about, 
and  I  don't  want  to  know,  neither,"  she  finished 
coldly,  turning  squarely  around  in  her  seat. 

Cordelia  hesitated;    then  she  stammered: 

"  If  —  if  you  think  it's  because  your  mother  will 
scold  you,  I  can  assure  you  that  she  will  not.  She 
is  very  anxious  to  hear  from  you  —  that's  all.  She's 
been  so  worried!  She  wants  to  know  if  you're  do- 
ing well,  and  all  that." 

"What  are  you  talking  about?"  demanded  the 
woman,  turning  sharply  back  to  Cordelia. 

"Your  — mother." 

"  My  mother  is  —  dead,  Miss." 

"  Oh-h !  "  gasped  Cordelia.  "  You  mean  you 
aren't  Mrs.  Lizzie  Higgins  —  she  that  was  Lizzie 
Snow  of  Sunbridge,  New  Hampshire,  who  eloped 
with  Mr.  Higgins  and  ran  away  to  Texas  years 
ago?" 

The  woman  laughed.    Her  face  cleared.    What- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  177 

ever  it  was  that  she  had  feared  —  she  evidently 
feared  it  no  longer. 

"  No,  Miss.  My  name  isn't  *  Lizzie/  and  it 
wa'n't  '  Snow/  and  I  never  heard  of  Sunbridge, 
New  Hampshire." 

"  O  dear !  "  quavered  Cordelia.  "  Mrs.  Snow 
will  be  so  sorry  —  that  is,  of  course  she'll  be  glad, 
too;  for  you  aren't  -  With  a  little  gasp  of  dis- 
may Cordelia  pulled  herself  up  before  the  words 
were  uttered,  but  not  before  their  meaning  was 
quite  clear  to  the  woman. 

"  Oh,  yes,  she'll  be  glad,  too,  no  doubt,"  she  cut 
in  bitterly;  "  because  I'm  not  exactly  what  a  woman 
would  want  for  a  lost  daughter,  now,  am  I  ?  " 

Cordelia  blushed  painfully. 

"  Oh,  please,  please  don't  talk  like  that !  I  am 
sure  Mrs.  Snow  would  be  glad  to  find  any  one  for 
a  daughter  —  she  wants  her  so !  And  she's  her  — 
mother,  you  know." 

The  woman's  face  softened. 

"  All  right,"  she  smiled,  a  little  bitterly.  "  If  I 
find  her  I'll  send  her  to  you." 

"  Oh,  will  you  ?  Thank  you  so  much,"  cried 
Cordelia.  "  And  there  are  some  others,  too,  that 
I'm  hunting  for.  Maybe  you  can  find  them  —  trav- 
eling around  so  much  as  you  do.  If  you've  got  a 
little  piece  of  paper  and  a  pencil,  I'll  just  write  them 
down,  please." 

Thus  it  happened  that  when  the  prairie  schooners 


178  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  sailed  away  "  (again  to  quote  Tilly),  one  of  them 
carried  a  bit  of  paper  on  which  had  been  written 
full  instructions  how  to  proceed  should  the  wife 
of  its  owner  ever  run  across  John  Sanborn,  Lizzie 
Higgins,  Lester  Goodwin,  or  James  Hunt. 

It  was  soon  after  this  that  the  Happy  Hexagons 
and  Mr.  Tim,  returning  on  horseback  from  a  long 
day  on  the  range,  met  with  a  delay  that  would 
prevent  their  reaching  the  ranch  house  until  some 
time  after  dark. 

"  Oh,  goody !  I  don't  care  a  bit,"  chuckled  Gene- 
vieve,  when  she  realized  the  facts  of  the  case. 
"  There  is  a  perfectly  glorious  moon,  and  now  you 
can  see  the  prairie  by  moonlight.  And  you  never 
really  have  seen  the  prairie  until  you  do  see  it  by 
moonlight,  you  know !  " 

"  But  we  have  seen  it  by  moonlight  —  right  from 
your  steps,"  cried  Tilly. 

"  Oh,  but  not  the  same  as  it  will  be  out  here  — 
away  from  the  ranch  house,"  cried  Genevieve. 
"You  just  wait!  You'll  see." 

And  they  did  wait.    And  they  did  see. 

It  did  seem,  indeed,  that  they  never  before  had 
really  seen  the  prairie;  they  all  agreed  to  that,  as 
they  gazed  in  awed  delight  at  the  vast,  silvery  won- 
der all  about  them,  some  time  later. 

"  Why,  it  looks  more  than  ever  like  the  ocean," 
cried  Bertha. 


FOLLOW    ME  —  QUICK!'     HE    ORDERED'' 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  179 

"  That  grass  over  there  actually  ripples  like 
water  in  the  moonlight,"  declared  Elsie. 

"  I  didn't  suppose  anything  could  be  so  beauti- 
ful," breathed  Cordelia.  "  But,  Genevieve,  won't 
Mrs.  Kennedy  be  dreadfully  worried,  at  our  being 
so  late?" 

Genevieve  gave  a  sigh. 

"  Yes,  I'm  afraid  so,"  she  admitted.  "  Still,  she 
has  Father  to  comfort  her,  and  he'll  remind  her  that 
Mr.  Tim  is  with  us,  and  that  delays  are  always  hap- 
pening on  a  day's  run  like  ours." 

"  I  wish  she  could  see  this  beautiful  sight  herself," 
cried  Alma.  "  She  wouldn't  blame  us,  then,  for 
going  wild  over  it  and  not  minding  if  we  are  a  little 
hungry." 

Tilly,  for  once,  was  silent.  * 

"  Well  ?  "  questioned  Genevieve,  after  a  time, 
riding  up  to  her  side. 

"  I  don't  know  any  one  —  only  Quentina  —  who 
could  do  justice  to  it,"  breathed  Tilly.  And,  to 
Genevieve's  amazement,  the  moonlight  showed  a 
tear  on  Tilly's  cheek. 

There  was  a  long  minute  of  silence.  The 
moon  was  very  bright,  yet  the  many  swift-flying 
clouds  brought  moments  of  soft  darkness,  and 
cast  weird  shadows  across  the  far-reaching 
prairie. 

"  I  think  I  smell  a  storm  coming  — •  sometime," 
sniffed  Mr.  Tim,  his  face  to  the  wind. 


180  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

u  Wouldn't  it  be  lovely  to  have  it  come  while  we 
were  out  here,"  gurgled  Tilly. 

"  Hardly !  "  rejoined  Mr.  Tim  with  emphasis. 
"  I  reckon  you  needn't  worry  about  that  storm  for 
some  hours  yet.  I'll  have  you  all  safely  corralled 
long  before  it  breaks  —  never  fear." 

"  I  wasn't  fearing.  I  was  hoping,"  retorted  Tilly 
in  a  voice  that  brought  a  chuckle  to  the  man's  lips. 

A  moment  later  Mr.  Tim  stopped  his  horse  and 
pointed  to  the  right. 

"  Do  you  see  that  black  shadow  over  there  ?  "  he 
asked  Bertha  Brown,  wrho  was  nearest  him. 

"Yes.  From  a  cloud,  isn't  it?"  Bertha,  too, 
stopped  to  look. 

"  I  think  not.  It's  a  bunch  of  cattle,  I  reckon. 
I  think  I  make  out  the  guards  riding  round  them." 

"What  is  it,  Mr.  Tim?"  Genevieve  and  the 
other  girls  had  caught  up  with  them  now. 

"  Cattle  —  over  there.  See  ?  "  explained  Mr. 
Tim,  briefly. 

At  that  moment  the  moon  came  out  unusually 
clear. 

"  I  can  see  two  men  on  horseback,  passing  each 
other,"  cried  Bertha. 

Mr.  Tim  nodded. 

'  Yes  —  the  guard.  They  ride  around  the  bunch 
in  opposite  ways,  you  know." 

"  Let's  go  nearer !  I  want  to  see,"  proposed  Tilly, 
trying  to  quiet  the  restless  movements  of  her  pony. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          181 

The  man  shook  his  head. 

"  I  reckon  not,  Miss  Tilly.  A  stampede  ain't 
what  I'm  looking  for  to  amuse  you  all  to-night." 

"  What's  a  stampede?  "  asked  Tilly. 

"  Mr.  Tim,  look  —  quick !  "  Genevieve's  voice 
was  urgent,  a  little  frightened.  But  the  man  had 
not  needed  that.  With  a  sharp  word  behind  his 
teeth,  he  spurred  his  horse. 

"  Follow  me  —  quick !  "  he  ordered.  And  with  a 
frightened  cry  they  obeyed. 

Genevieve  obeyed,  too  —  but  she  looked  back 
over  her  shoulder. 

The  moon  was  very  bright  now.  The  black 
shadow  to  the  right  had  become  a  wedge-shaped, 
compact,  seething  mass,  sweeping  rapidly  toward 
them.  There  was  a  rushing  swish  in  the  air,  and 
the  sound  of  hoarse  shouts.  A  few  moments  later 
the  maddened  beasts  swept  across  their  path,  well 
to  the  rear. 

"  I'll  answer  your  question,  now,  Miss  Tilly," 
said  Mr.  Tim,  as  they  reined  in  their  horses  and 
looked  backward  at  the  shadowy  mass.  "  That  was 
a  stampede." 

"  But  what  will  they  do  with  them?  "  chattered 
Cordelia,  with  white  lips.  "  How  can  they  ever 
stop  them?" 

"  Oh,  they'll  head  them  off  —  get  them  to  run- 
ning in  a  circle,  probably,  till  they  can  quiet  them 
and  make  them  lie  down  again." 


182  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  And  will  they  be  all  right  —  then  ?  "  shivered 
Elsie. 

"Hm-m;  yes,"  nodded  Mr.  Tim,  "  —  till  the 
next  thing  sets  them  going.  Then  they'll  be  again 
on  their  feet,  every  last  one  of  them  —  heads  and 
tails  erect.  Oh,  they're  a  pretty  sight  then  —  they 
are!" 

"They  must  be,"  remarked  Tilly.  "Still  — 
well,  I  sha'n't  ask  you  again  what  a  stampede  is  — 
not  to-night." 

Mr.  Tim  laughed. 

"  Well,  Miss  Tilly,  'tain't  likely  I  could  show  you 
one  if  you  did.  I  don't  always  keep  'em  so  handy ! 
And  now  I  reckon  we'd  better  hit  the  trail  for  the 
Six  Star,  and  be  right  lively  about  it,  too,"  he  added, 
"  or  we'll  be  having  Mis'  Kennedy  out  here  herself 
on  a  broncho  after  ye!  " 

Half  an  hour  later  a  white-faced,  teary-eyed  little 
woman  at  the  Six  Star  Ranch  was  trying  to  get  her 
joyful  arms  around  six  girls  at  once. 

It  was  the  next  morning,  and  just  before  Mr. 
Tim's  predicted  storm  broke,  that  the  girls  found 
the  injured  man  almost  hidden  in  the  tall  grass  near 
the  ranch  house.  They  had  gone  out  for  a  short 
ride,  but  had  kept  near  shelter  owing  to  the  threaten- 
ing sky.  Tilly  saw  the  man  first. 

"  Genevieve,  there's  a  man  down  there,"  she  cried 
softly.  "  He's  hurt,  I  think." 

Genevieve  was  off  her  horse  at  once.     The  man 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          183 

was  found  to  be  breathing,  but  apparently  uncon- 
scious. He  lay  twisted  in  a  little  huddled  heap, 
with  one  of  his  legs  bent  under  him.  He  groaned 
faintly  when  Genevieve  spoke  to  him. 

Genevieve  was  a  little  white  when  she  straight- 
ened up. 

"  I  think  we'll  have  to  get  a  wagon,  or  some- 
thing, and  two  of  the  boys,"  she  said.  "  I'll  ride 
back  to  the  house  if  some  of  you  girls  will  stay 
here." 

"We'll  all  stay,"  promised  Cordelia;  "only  be 
quick,"  she  added,  slipping  from  her  pony's  back, 
and  giving  the  reins  to  Bertha.  "  Maybe  if  I  could 
hold  his  poor  head  he'd  be  more  comfortable." 

Cautiously  she  sat  down  on  the  ground  and  lifted 
the  man's  head  to  her  lap.  He  groaned  again 
faintly,  and  opened  his  eyes.  They  were  large  and 
dark.  For  a  moment  there  was  only  pain  in  their 
depths;  then,  gradually,  there  came  a  look  of  pro- 
found amazement. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  he  asked  feebly. 

"  Sh !  Don't  talk.  You  are  on  the  prairie.  You 
must  have  got  hurt,  some  way." 

He  tried  to  move,  and  groaned  again. 

"Please  be  still,"  begged  Cordelia.  "You'll 
make  things  worse.  We've  sent  for  help,  and  they'll 
be  here  right  away." 

The  man  closed  his  eyes  now.  He  did  not  speak 
again. 


184  SIX  STAR  RANCH- 

It  seemed  a  long  time,  but  it  was  really  a  very 
short  one,  before  Genevieve  came  with  Carlos  and 
Pedro  and  one  of  the  ranch  wagons.  The  man 
groaned  again,  and  grew  frightfully  white  when 
they  lifted  him  carefully  into  the  wagon.  Then  he 
fainted.  He  was  still  unconscious  when  they 
reached  the  ranch  house. 


SIX  t  STAR  RANCH  185 


CHAPTER   XIV 

A    MAN   AND  A    MYSTERY 

AUGUST  came.  The  first  few  days  of  the  month 
were  particularly  busy  ones  as  some  of  the  boys 
were  off  to  a  round-up  on  the  fifth,  and  Mr.  Hart- 
ley was  going  with  them  for  a  week.  To  the  girls 
the  big  four-horse  wagon  for  the  food  and  bedding 
—  the  "  wheeled  house  "  that  was  to  be  home  for 
the  boys  —  was  always  an  object  of  great  interest. 
Then  there  was  the  excitement  of  the  start  on  the 
day  itself,  which  this  time  was  made  particularly 
momentous  by  the  going  of  Mr.  Hartley. 

The  ranch  house  seemed  very  lonely  without  its 
genial,  generous-hearted  owner,  and  everybody  was 
glad  that  he  had  promised  to  come  back  in  a  week. 
Meanwhile,  of  course,  there  was  "  the  man." 

The  man  was  he  who  had  been  found  by  the  girls 
in  the  prairie  grass.  He  was  still  almost  as  much 
of  a  mystery  as  ever.  Mr.  Hartley  had  insisted 
upon  his  staying  —  and,  indeed  (though  no  bones 
were  broken),  he  was  quite  too  badly  injured  to  be 
moved  for  a  time.  He  was  able  now  to  sit  in  the 
big  comfortable  chairs  on  the  back  gallery;  and  he 
spent  hours  there  every  day,  sometimes  reading, 


186  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

more  often  sitting  motionless,  with  his  dark  eyes 
closed,  and  his  hands  resting  on  his  crutches  by  his 
side. 

He  had  not  seemed  to  care  to  talk  of  himself. 
He  had  merely  said  that  his  horse  had  thrown  him, 
and  that  he  had  lain  in  the  grass  for  some  time  be- 
fore he  was  found.  He  was  quiet,  had  good  man- 
ners, and  used  good  language.  He  said  that  his 
name  was  John  Edwards.  He  seemed  deeply  grate- 
ful for  all  kindness  shown  him,  but  was  plainly  anx- 
ious to  be  well  enough  to  be  on  his  way  again.  Mr. 
Hartley,  however,  had  won  his  promise  to  remain 
till  he  himself  returned  from  the  round-up. 

All  the  young  people  did  their  best  to  make  the 
injured  man's  time  pass  as  pleasantly  as  possible; 
and  very  often  one  or  another  of  them  might  be 
found  reading  to  him,  or  playing  a  game  of  checkers 
or  chess  with  him. 

It  was  on  such  an  occasion  that  Cordelia  Wilson, 
at  the  conclusion  of  a  game  of  checkers,  found  the 
courage  to  say  something  that  had  long  been  on 
her  mind. 

"  Mr.  Edwards,  do  —  do  you  know  Texas  very 
well?" 

The  man  smiled  a  little. 

"  Well,  Miss  Cordelia,  Texas  is  rather  large,  you 
know." 

Cordelia  sighed  almost  impatiently. 
"  Dear  me !     I  —  I  wish  every  one  wouldn't  al- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          187 

ways  say  that,"  she  lamented.  "  It's  so  discourag- 
ing! " 

"  Dis — couraging?  " 

"  Yes  —  when  you're  trying  to  find  some  one." 

"  Oh !    And  are  you  trying  to  find  some  one  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;    four  some  ones." 

"  Well,  I  should  think  that  might  be  difficult  — 
in  Texas,  unless  you  know  where  they  are,"  smiled 
the  man. 

"I  don't;  and  that's  what's  the  matter,"  sighed 
Cordelia.  "  That's  why  I  was  going  to  ask  you,  to 
see  if  you  didn't  know,  perhaps." 

"Ask  me?" 

''Yes.  That  is,  if  you  had  been  around  any  — 
in  Texas.  You  see  I  ask  everybody,  almost.  1 
have  to,"  she  apologized  a  little  wistfully.  "  And 
even  then  it  looks  as  if  I  should  have  to  go  back  to 
Sunbridge  without  finding  one  of  them.  And  I'd 
so  hate  to  do  that!" 

The  man  started  visibly. 

"Go  back  — where?" 

"  To  Sunbridge." 

"Sunbridge—?" 

"  Sunbridge,  New  Hampshire;  home,  you  know." 

An  odd  expression  crossed  the  man's  face. 

"  No  —  I  didn't  know,"  he  said,  after  a  mo- 
ment. 

"  Why,  didn't  any  of  us  ever  tell  you  we  were 
from  the  East  ?  "  cried  Cordelia. 


188  SIX  STAB  RANCH,. 

"  Oh,  yes,  lots  of  times.  But  you  never  hap- 
pened to  mention  the  town  before,  I  think." 

"  Why,  how  funny !  "  murmured  Cordelia. 

The  man  did  not  speak.  He  seemed  to  have 
fallen  into  a  reverie.  Cordelia  stirred  restlessly  in 
her  seat. 

"Did  you  say  you  would  help  me?"  she  asked 
at  last,  timidly. 

"  Help  you  ?  "  The  man  seemed  to  have  forgot- 
ten what  she  had  been  speaking  of. 

"  Help  me  to  find  them,  you  know  —  those 
people  I'm  looking  for." 

"  Why,  of  course,"  laughed  the  man,  easily. 
"  Who  are  —  "  He  stopped  abruptly.  For  the 
second  time  an  odd  expression  crossed  his  face. 
"  Are  they  —  Sunbridge  people  ?  "  he  asked,  stoop- 
ing to  pick  up  a  dried  leaf  from  the  gal- 
lery floor. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Edwards.  There  are  four  of  them  — 
three  men  and  one  woman.  They  are  John  San- 
born,  Lester  Goodwin,  James  Hunt,  and  Mrs.  Lizzie 
Higgins.  Maybe  you  know  some  of  them.  Do 
you?" 

"  Well,  Miss  Cordelia,"  -  the  man  stopped  a 
minute,  as  he  reached  for  a  leaf  still  farther  away  — 
"is  that  quite  to  be  expected?"  he  asked  then, 
lightly. 

"  No,  I  suppose  not,"  she  sighed ;  "  for,  of  course, 
Texas  is  big.  But  if  you  would  please  just  put  their 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  189 

names  down  on  paper  same  as  the  others  have,  that 
would  help  a  great  deal." 

"  Why,  certainly,"  agreed  the  man,  reaching  into 
his  pocket  and  bringing  out  a  little  notebook  not 
unlike  the  minister's.  "  Now  suppose  you  —  you 
give  me  those  names  again,  Miss  Cordelia." 

"  John  Sanborn,  Lester  Goodwin,  James  Hunt, 
and  Mrs.  Lizzie  Higgins.  And  I  am  Cordelia  Wil- 
son, you  know.  Just  '  Sunbridge,  New  Hampshire,' 
would  reach  me  —  if  you  found  any  of  them." 

"I'll  remember  —  if  I  find  any  of  them,"  mur- 
mured the  man,  as  he  wrote  the  last  name. 

"  And  thank  you  so  much !  "  beamed  Cordelia. 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  The  man  wa,« 
playing  with  his  pencil. 

"  Did  you  say  you  were  asked  to  find  these 
people  ?  '*'  he  inquired  at  last,  examining  the  lead 
of  his  pencil  intently. 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir." 

"  Indeed !  And  may  I  inquire  who  asked 
you?" 

"  Why,  of  course !  The  people  who  belong  to 
them  —  who  are  so  anxious  for  them  to  come  back, 
you  know." 

"Oh,  then  they  want  them?"  The  man  was 
still  examining  the  point  of  his  pencil. 

"  Indeed  they  do,  Mr.  Edwards,"  cried  Cordelia, 
glad  to  find  her  new  audience  so  interested.  "  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Higgins  eloped  years  ago,  and  her  mother, 


190  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Mrs.  Snow,  is  terribly  worried.  She's  never  heard 
a  word  from  her.  Mrs.  Granger  is  a  widow,  and 
very  poor.  Her  husband  died  last  year.  She  hasn't 
any  one  left  but  'her  cousin,  Lester  Goodwin,  now, 
and  she  so  wishes  she  could  find  him.  Lester's  had 
some  money  left  him,  but  if  he  isn't  found  this  year, 
it'll  go  to  some  one  else." 

"  Oh !  "  The  man  gave  a  short  little  laugh  that 
sounded  not  quite  pleasant,  as  he  lifted  his  head 
suddenly.  "  I  begin  to  see.  Mrs.  Granger  thinks 
if  she  had  Lester,  and  Lester  had  the  money,  why 
she'd  get  the  money,  too,  eh  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,  sir  —  not  exactly,"  objected  Cordelia. 
"  You  see,  if  he  isn't  found  the  money  goes  to  'her, 
so  she  thinks  she  ought  to  make  a  special  effort  to 
find  him.  She  says  she  wouldn't  sleep  a  wink  if 
she  took  all  that  money  without  trying  to  find  him; 
jo  she  asked  me.  Of  course  the  lawyers  are  hunt- 
ing, anyway." 

"  Oh-h !  "  said  the  man  again ;  but  this  time  he 
did  not  laugh.  "  Hm-m ;  well  —  are  there  any 
fortunes  left  the  other  two  ? "  he  asked,  after  a 
moment's  silence.  He  had  gone  back  to  his  pencil 
point. 

"  Oh,  no,  sir,"  laughed  Cordelia,  a  little  ruefully. 
"  I'm  afraid  they  won't  think  so.  They're  wanted 
to  help  folks." 

"To  help  folks!" 

"  Yes,  sir.     You  see  John  Sanborn's  father  is 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  191 

very  poor,  and  he  lives  all  alone  in  a  little  bit 
of  a  house  in  the  woods.  He's  called  '  Hermit 
Joe/  " 

"  Yes  —  go  on,"  bade  the  man,  as  Cordelia 
stopped  for  breath.  The  man's  voice  was  husky  — 
perhaps  because  he  had  stooped  to  pick  up  another 
dried  leaf. 

"  There  isn't  much  more  about  him,  only  he's 
terribly  lonesome  and  wants  his  boy,  he  says.  You 
see,  the  boy  ran  away  years  and  years  ago.  I  don't 
think  that  was  very  nice  of  him.  Do  you  ?  " 

There  was  no  answer.  The  man  sat  now  with 
his  hand  over  his  eyes.  Cordelia  wondered  if  per^ 
haps  she  had  tired  him. 

"  And  that's  all,"  she  said  hurriedly;  "  only  Sally 
Hunt's  brother,  James.  If  he  isn't  found  she'll 
have  to  go  to  the  Poor  Farm,  I'm  afraid." 

"What?" 

Cordelia  started  nervously.  The  man  had  turned 
upon  her  so  sharply  that  his  crutches  fell  to  the 
floor  with  a  crash. 

"  Oh,  sir,  I  beg  your  pardon,"  she  apologized, 
springing  to  her  feet.  "  I'm  so  afraid  you  were 
asleep,  and  I  startled  you.  I  —  I  will  go  now.  And 
—  and  thank  you  ever  so  much  for  writing  down 
those  names !  " 

The  man  shook  his  head  decidedly. 

"  Don't  go,"  he  begged.  "  You  have  not  tired 
me,  and  I  like  to  hear  you  talk.  Now  sit  down, 


192  .SIX  STAR  RANCH 

please,  and  tell  me  all  about  these  people  —  this 
James  Hunt's  sister,  and  all  the  rest." 

"  Oh,  do  you  really  want  to  know  about  them?  " 
cried  Cordelia,  joyfully.  "  Then  I  will  tell  you ; 
for  maybe  it  would  help  you  find  them,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  maybe  it  would,"  agreed  the  man,  in  a 
curiously  vibrant  voice,  as  Cordelia  seated  herself 
again  at  his  side.  "  Now  talk." 

And  Cordelia  talked.  She  talked  not  only  then, 
but  several  times  after  that,  and  she  talked  always 
of  Sunbridge.  Mr.  Edwards  seemed  so  interested 
in  everything  and  everybody  there,  though  specially, 
of  course,  in  the  relatives  of  the  four  lost  people 
she  was  trying  to  find  —  which  was  natural,  cer- 
tainly, thought  Cordelia,  inasmuch  as  he,  too,  was 
going  to  search  for  them  in  the  weeks  to  come. 

Mr.  Edwards  improved  in  health  very  rapidly 
these  days.  He  discarded  his  crutches,  and  seemed 
feverishly  anxious  to  test  his  strength  on  every  oc- 
casion. Upon  Mr.  Hartley's  return  from  the 
round-up,  the  injured  man  insisted  that  he  was 
|quite  well  enough  to  go  away;  and,  in  spite  of  the 
kind  ranchman's  protests,  he  did  go  the  next  day 
after  Mr.  Hartley's  return.  Carlos  drove  him  to 
Bolo,  and  the  Happy  Hexagons  stood  on  the  ranch- 
house  steps  and  gave  him  their  Texas  yell  as  a 
sendoff,  substituting  a  lusty  "  MR.  EDWARDS  " 
for  Genevieve's  name  at  the  end. 

"  That   is   the  most  convenient  yell,"   chuckled 


SIX  STAR;  RANCH  193 

Tilly,  as  the  ranch  wagon  with  Carlos  and  Mr.  Ed- 
wards drove  away.  "  It'll  do  for  anything  and 
anybody.  And  didn't  Mr.  Edwards  like  it !  " 

"  Of  course  he  did !  He  couldn't  help  it,"  cried 
Genevieve. 

"  I  think  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  very  nice  man,"  ob- 
served Cordelia,  with  emphasis,  "  and  I  wish  he 
could  have  stayed  for  the  party." 

:<  Why,  of  course  he's  a  nice  man,"  chimed  in 
the  other  girls,  eyeing  her  earnest  face  a  little  curi- 
ously. 

"Who  said  he  wasn't?"  laughed  Tilly.  "My! 
but  it  is  hot,  isn't  it?  "  she  added,  dropping  into  one 
of  the  big  wicker  chairs  near  her. 

"  Oh,  of  course  we  have  to  have  some  warm 
weather,"  bridled  Genevieve,  "  else  you'd  be  home- 
sick for  New  Hampshire !  " 

"  The  mean  annual  temperature  of  the  country 
near  — "  began  Tilly,  mischievously;  but  Gene- 
vieve put  her  hands  to  her  ears  and  fled. 

The  fourteenth  of  August  was  to  be  a  gala  occa- 
sion at  the  Six  Star  Ranch,  for  there  was  to  be  a 
supper  and  dance  to  entertain  the  friends  from  the 
East. 

"But  where'll  you  get  your  guests?"  demanded 
Tilly,  when  she  first  heard  of  the  plan.  "  Whom 
can  you  have,  'way  off  here  like  this?  —  all  will 
please  take  notice  that  I  said  'whom'!" 


194  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Genevieve  laughed  and  tossed  her  head  a  little. 

"  Well,  we'll  have  the  boys  here  on  the  ranch,  of 
course,  and  Susie  Billings,  and  some  of  the  other 
Bolo  girls.  We  can't  have  Quentina,  of  course  — 
Poor  thing!  Isn't  it  a  shame  about  that  whooping 
cough  ?  —  and  Ned's  got  it,  too,  now,  you  know !  — 
but  I  think  the  Boyntons  will  come.  Their  ranch 
is  only  thirty-five  miles  away,  and  they  could  stay 
all  night,  of  course." 

"  Only  thirty-five  miles  away/'  repeated  Tilly, 
airily.  "Of  course  nobody 'd  mind  a  little  thing 
like  that,  for  a  party !  " 

"  No,  they  wouldn't  —  in  Texas,"  retorted  Gene- 
neve.  "  There's  the  Wetherbys,  too.  They  live 
five  miles  out  from  Bolo  on  the  other  side.  Maybe 
they'll  come.  We'll  ask  them,  anyhow.  Oh,  we'll 
have  a  party  —  never  you  fear !  " 

When  the  night  of  the  fourteenth  arrived,  things 
looked,  indeed,  very  like  "a  party."  Everywhere 
were  confusion  and  excitement,  even  to  the  saddle 
room  and  blacksmith's  shop,  and  to  the  two  big 
tents  that  were  being  put  up  for  extra  sleeping 
quarters.  Everywhere,  too  (Mrs.  Kennedy  de- 
clared), were  dishes  'heaped  with  chocolate  candies. 
Mr.  Edwards,  who  had  left  the  ranch  only  the  day 
before,  had  sent  back  by  Carlos  twenty-five  pounds 
of  the  best  candy  Bolo  could  supply;  and  the  girls 
had  been  lavish  in  its  disposal. 

Five  Wetherbys  and  six  Boyntons  had  arrived 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  195 

together  with  a  dozen  cowboys  on  horseback.  Susie 
Billings,  minus  her  khaki  and  cartridges,  looked  the 
picture  of  demureness  in  white  muslin  and  baby- 
blue  ribbons.  There  were  other  pretty  girls,  too, 
from  Bolo,  in  white,  and  in  pale  pink  and  yellow. 
And  everywhere  were  the  Happy  Hexagons,  wildly 
excited,  and  delighted  with  it  all. 

The  big  hall  and  the  living-room  had  been  cleared 
for  dancing.  The  galleries  and  the  long  covered 
way  leading  to  the  dining-room  had  been  decorated 
with  flowers  and  lanterns.  The  long  table  in  the 
dining-room  was  decorated,  too,  and  would  later  be 
loaded  with  all  sorts  of  good  things:  sandwiches, 
hot  biscuits,  tamales,  cakes,  and  black  coffee  without 
sugar.  In  the  center  of  the  table  already  there  was 
a  huge  round  white  something  that  called  forth  de- 
lighted clappings  from  the  Happy  Hexagons  as  they 
flocked  in  at  seven  o'clock  to  look  at  the  table  deco- 
rations. 

"  Oh,  what  a  lovely  cake,"  gurgled  Tilly,  "  and 
such  a  big  one !  " 

Genevieve  laughed  mischievously. 

"  I'll  give  you  the  whole  cake  —  if  you'll  cut  if," 
she  proposed. 

With  manifest  alacrity  Tilly  reached  for  a  knife. 

"Done!  "she  cried. 

Before  the  knife  descended,  Genevieve  caught  her 
hand. 

"  Wait !    Look  here,"  she  parleyed.    Taking  the 


196  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

knife,  she  thrust  its  point  through  the  elaborate 
white  frosting,  with  two  or  three  gentle  taps. 

"Why,  it's  hard!  —  hard  as  stone,"  ejaculated 
Tilly,  trying  for  herself. 

"  It  is  stone,"  laughed  Genevieve. 

"  Stone !  "  cried  a  chorus  of  unbelieving  voices. 

"  Yes,  stone  —  frosted  with  sugar  and  the  whites 
of  eggs.  Oh,  if  you'd  lived  in  Texas  as  long  as  I 
have  you'd  have  seen  them  before,"  nodded  Gene- 
vieve. 

"  Well,  I've  got  my  opinion  of  Texas  cakes, 
then,"  pouted  Tilly,  with  saucy  impertinence. 

"Oh,  you'll  change  it  later,  I  reckon  —  when 
you  see  the  real  ones,"  rejoined  Genevieve,  com- 
fortably, as  they  left  the  dining-room. 

There  never  had  been,  surely,  such  a  party.  All 
the  Happy  Hexagons  agreed  to  that.  So,  too,  did 
all  the  guests.  Perhaps  on  no  one's  face  was  there 
a  look  of  anxious  care  except  on  Cordelia's.  Pos- 
sibly Mr.  Hartley  noticed  this  look.  At  all  events 
he  watched  Cordelia  rather  closely,  as  the  evening 
advanced,  particularly  after  he  chanced  to  overhear 
some  of  her  remarks  to  his  guests.  Then  he  sought 
his  daughter. 

"  Dearie,"  he  began  in  a  low  voice,  leading  her  a 
little  to  one  side,  "  what  in  the  world  ails  that  little 
Miss  Cordelia  ?  " 

"  Ails  her!  What  do  you  mean?  Is  she  sick?  " 
"  No,  I  don't  think  so;  but  she  looks  as  if  she'd 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          197 

got  the  weight  of  the  whole  outfit  on  her  shoulders, 
and  she  seems  to  be  going  'round  asking  everybody 
if  they  knew  John  somebody,  or  Lizzie  somebody 
else." 

Genevieve  laughed  merrily;  but  almost  at  once 
she  frowned  and  shook  her  head. 

"  No,  I  don't  know,  Father,  what  is  the  matter. 
But  Cordelia  is  capable  of  —  anything,  if  once  her 
conscience  is  stirred.  Why  don't  you  ask  her  your- 
self?" 

"  I  believe  I  will,  dearie/'  he  asserted  at  last. 

Five  minutes  later  he  chanced  to  find  Cordelia 
without  a  partner. 

"  Miss  Cordelia,  will  you  accept  an  old  man  for 
this  dance  ?  "  he  asked  genially.  "  And  shall  we 
sit  it  out,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  Oh,  thank  you !  I'd  love  to,"  cried  Cordelia  in 
a  relieved  voice.  "  And  I  shall  be  so  glad  to 
rest!" 

"  Tired  —  dancing?  "  he  asked. 

"  Oh,  no,  not  dancing;  that  is  —  well  —  "  She 
stopped,  and  colored  painfully. 

Mr.  Hartley  waited  a  moment,  then  observed  with 
a  smile: 

'  You  seem  to  be  looking  for  some  one  to-night, 
Miss  Cordelia.  Didn't  I  hear  you  asking  Mr.  Boyn- 
ton  and  Joe  Wetherby  if  they  knew  John  somebody 
or  other?" 

Again  a  pink  flush  spread  over  Cordelia's  face. 


198  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  am  looking  for  somebody  —  four 
somebodies." 

"You  don't  say!     Found  them  yet?" 

She  shook  her  head.  To  the  man's  surprise  and 
distress,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears. 

"  No,  Mr.  Hartley,  and  that's  what's  the  trouble. 
That's  why  I'm  trying  so  hard  to-night  to  ask  all 
these  people  —  there's  such  a  little  time  left !  " 

"Time  — left?" 

"  Yes.  I'd  like  to  tell  you  about  it,  please.  I 
think  I  may  tell  you.  Of  course  I  haven't  said  a 
word  to  the  girls,  because  the  people  —  back  in  Sun- 
bridge  — didn't  want  me  to  talk  about  it.  I'm  look- 
ing for  John  Sanborn,  Lester  Goodwin,  James  Hunt, 
and  Mrs.  Lizzie  Higgins.  They're  all  Sunbridge 
people  who  came  to  Texas  years  ago,  and  are 
lost." 

Mr.  Hartley  gave  a  sudden  exclamation. 

"  Did  you  say  —  Lester  Goodwin  was  one  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Who  wants  him,  and  what  for?  " 

Patiently  Cordelia  told  him.  She  wore  a  hope- 
less air.  She  had  ceased,  evidently,  to  expect  any- 
thing that  was  good. 

Mr.  Hartley  gave  a  low  whistle.  For  a  moment 
he  was  silent,  then  he  chuckled  unexpectedly. 

"  Well,  Miss  Cordelia,  if  you  hadn't  looked  so 
far  away  for  your  pony  you  might  have  seen  his 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          199 

tracks  nearer  home,  perhaps.  As  it  happens,  Les- 
ter Goodwin  is  right  here  on  the  ranch." 

"Here?     Lester  Goodwin?"  gasped  Cordelia. 

"  Yes.  Oh,  he  isn't  known  by  that  name  —  he 
preferred  not  to  be.  He  came  to  me  fourteen  years 
ago,  and  he's  been  here  ever  since.  He  said  he 
wanted  to  be  a  cowboy;  that  he'd  always  wanted 
to  be  one  ever  since  when,  as  a  little  boy,  he  used 
to  rope  his  rocking-horse  with  his  mother's  clothes- 
line. His  uncle  had  wanted  him  to  be  a  teacher, 
but  he  hated  the  sight  of  books;  so  when  his  uncle 
died,  he  ran  away  and  came  here.  He  said  there 
wasn't  anybody  to  care  where  he  was,  or  what  he 
did;  so  I  let  him  stay." 

"  And  to  think  he's  here  now !  " 

"  He  certainly  is.  You  see  he  came  here  because 
he  knew  me  once  a  little  when  I  was  in  Sunbridge 
visiting  relatives,  years  ago,  and  he  knew  I  had  be- 
come a  ranchman  in  Texas.  He  begged  so  hard 
that  I  should  keep  his  secret  that  I've  always  kept 
it.  Besides,  there  was  nothing  to  keep.  Nobody 
ever  asked  me,  or  suspected  he  was  here." 

"  Why,  how  strange ! "  breathed  Cordelia,  with 
shining  eyes.  "  And  only  think  how  I've  asked 
everybody  but  you  —  and  now  I've  found  one  of 
them  right  here !  " 

"  Yes  —  though  we  mustn't  be  too  sure,  of 
course.  We'll  tell  him;  but  maybe  he  won't  want 
to  go  back,  even  now.  I  reckon,  however,  that 


200  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

when  he  hears  of  the  money,  Reddy  won't  mind 
his  real  name  being  known.'7 

"Reddy!"  cried  Cordelia. 

"Oh!  — I  didn't  tell  you,  did  I?"  smiled  Mr. 
Hartley.  "  Yes,  Reddy  is  Lester  Goodwin." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Hartley !  And  I  never  thought  of 
such  a  thing  as  asking  him!  I  only  looked  for  the 
cowboys  who  were  called  '  John '  or  '  James,'  or 
1  Lester  '  —  and  there  weren't  many  of  those.  And 
so  it's  Reddy  —  why,  I  just  can't  believe  it's  true !  " 

"  I  reckon  Reddy  can't,  either,"  laughed  Mr. 
Hartley.  "  And  now  we'll  let  you  go  back  to  your 
dancing,  my  dear.  I've  already  encountered  at  least 
four  pairs  of  glowering  eyes  unpleasantly  pointed 
in  my  direction.  I'll  go  and  find  Reddy  —  or 
rather,  Mr.  Lester  Goodwin,"  he  finished  impres- 
sively, as  he  rose  to  his  feet. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          201 


CHAPTER   XV 

THE   ALAMO 

Two  days  after  the  party  at  the  ranch  house, 
Mr.  Hartley  made  a  wonderful  announcement  at 
the  dinner  table. 

"  What  do  you  say,  young  ladies,  to  a  visit  to 
San  Antonio  ?  "  he  began. 

"Father,  could  we?  Do  you  mean  we  can?'3 
cried  Genevieve. 

"  Yes,  dear,  that's  just  what  I  mean.  It  so  hap- 
pens I've  got  business  there,  so  I'm  going  to  take 
you  home  'round  by  that  way.  We'll  have  maybe 
a  couple  of  days  there,  and  we'll  see  something  of 
the  surrounding  country,  besides.  You  know 
Texas  is  quite  a  state  —  and  you've  seen  mighty 
little  of  it,  as  yet." 

"  Oh,  girls,  we'll  see  the  Alamo !  "  cried  Gene- 
vieve. "Did  you  realize  that?" 

"Will  we,  truly?"  chorused  several  rapturous 
voices. 

"  Yes." 

"  And  what  do  you  know  about  the  Alamo, 
young  ladies  ?  "  smiled  Mr.  Hartley. 

"  We  know  everything,"  answered  Tilly,  cheer- 


202  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

fully.  "  Mr.  Jones's  daughter,  you  know,  was  our 
Latin  teacher,  and  she  had  the  History  class,  too. 
Well,  we  couldn't  even  think  Bunker  Hill  but  what 
she'd  pipe  up  about  the  Alamo.  Now  I  think  Bun- 
ker Hill  is  pretty  good!  " 

"  Oh,  but  we  want  to  see  the  Alamo,  just  the 
same,"  interposed  Bertha,  anxiously. 

"  Of  course !  "  cried  five  emphatic  girlish  voices. 

"  All  right,"  laughed  Mr.  Hartley.  "  You  shall 
see  it,  all  of  you  —  if  the  train  will  take  us  there; 
and  you'll  see  —  well,  you'll  see  a  lot  of  other 
things,  too." 

Cordelia  stirred  uneasily.  The  old  anxious  look 
came  back  to  her  eyes.  When  dinner  was  over  she 
stole  to  Mr.  Hartley's  side. 

"  Mr.  Hartley,  please,  shall  we  see  an  oil  well  ?  " 
she  asked,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Bless  you,  little  lady,  what  do  you  know  about 
oil  wells?"  smiled  the  man,  good-naturedly. 
"  You  haven't  got  any  of  those  to  look  up,  have 
you?" 

To  his  dumbfounded  amazement,  she  answered 
simply : 

"Yes,  sir  — one." 

"  Well,  I'll  be  —  well,  just  what  is  this  proposi- 
tion ?  "  he  broke  off  whimsically. 

"  If  you'll  wait  —  just  a  minute  —  I'll  get  the 
paper,"  panted  Cordelia.  "  Mr.  Hodges  wrote 
down  the  name." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          203 

Very  soon  she  had  returned  with  the  paper,  and 
Mr.  Hartley  saw  the  name.  His  face  hardened,  yet 
his  eyes  were  curiously  tender. 

"  I'm  afraid,  little  girl,  that  this  won't  come  out 
quite  so  well  as  the  Reddy  affair  —  by  the  way, 
Reddy  left  an  extra  good-by  for  you  this  morn- 
ing. He  went  away  before  you  were  up,  you 
know.  He  feels  pretty  grateful  to  you,  Miss 
Cordelia/' 

"  But  I  didn't  do  anything,  Mr.  Hartley.  I  do 
wish  I  could  see  Mrs.  Granger  when  he  gets  there, 
though.  I  —  I'm  afraid  she  doesn't  like  cowboys 
much  better  than  Mrs.  Miller  does." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  Mr.  Hartley  was 
scowling  at  the  bit  of  paper  in  his  hand. 

"  Did  you  say  you  didn't  know  where  that  oil 
well  was,  Mr.  Hartley?"  asked  Cordelia,  timidly. 

"  Yes.  I  don't  know  where  it  is  —  and  I  reckon 
there  doesn't  anybody  else  know,  either,"  he  an- 
swered slowly.  "  I  know  where  it  claims  to  be, 
and  I  know  it  is  just  one  big  swindle  from  begin- 
ning to  end." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  sorry,"  sighed  the  girl. 

"  So  am  I,  my  dear.  I'm  sorry  for  Mr.  Hodges, 
and  lots  of  others  that  I  know  lost  money  in  the 
same  thing.  But  it  can't  be  helped  now." 

"  Then  there  aren't  any  oil  wells  here  at  all  in 
Texas?"  asked  Cordelia,  tearfully. 

"  Bless  you,  yes,  child  —  heaps  of  them !    You'll 


804  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

see  them,  too,  probably,  before  you  leave  the  state. 
But  —  you  won't  see  this  one." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  sorry/'  mourned  Cordelia,  again, 
as  sadly  she  took  the  bit  of  paper  back  to  her  room. 

It  was  not  many  days  before  the  Happy  Hexa- 
gons said  good-by  to  the  ranch  —  a  most  reluctant 
good-by.  It  was  a  question,  however,  which  felt 
the  worst:  Mammy  Lindy,  weeping  on  the  gallery 
steps,  Mr.  Tim  and  the  boys,  waving  a  noisy 
good-by  from  their  saddles,  or  Mrs.  Kennedy  and 
the  Happy  Hexagons  —  the  latter  tearfully  giving 
their  Texas  yell  with  "THE  RANCH"  for  the 
final  word  to-day. 

"  I  think  I  never  had  such  a  good  time  in  all  my 
life,"  breathed  Cordelia. 

"  I  know  I  never  did,"  choked  Tilly.  "  Gene- 
vieve,  we  can't  ever  begin  to  thank  you  for  it 
all!" 

"I  —  I  don't  want  you  to,"  wailed  Genevieve, 
dabbing  her  eyes  with  her  handkerchief.  "  I 
reckon  you  haven't  had  any  better  time  than  I 
have!"' 

Quentina  wa's  at  the  Bolo  station;  so,  too,  was 
Susie  Billings. 

"  O  Happy  Hexagons,  Happy  Hexagons,  I  just 
had  to  come  "  chanted  Quentina,  standing  some 
distance  away,  and  extending  two  restraining 
hands,  palms  outward.  "  Don't  kiss  me  —  don't 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  205 

come  near  me!  I  don't  think  I've  got  any  whoop- 
ing germs  about  me,  but  we  want  to  be  on  the  safe 
side." 

"  But,  Ouentina,  how  are  you?  How  are  all  of 
you? "  cried  Genevieve,  plainly  distressed.  "  I 
think  it's  just  horrid  —  staying  off  at  arm's  length 
like  this !  " 

"  But  you  must,  dear,"  almost  sobbed  Quentina. 
"  I  wouldn't  have  you  go  through  what  we  are  going 
through  with  at  home  for  anything.  Such  a  whoop 
—  whoop  —  whooping  time !  " 

"Couldn't  you  make  a  poem  on  it?"  bantered 
Tilly.  "  I  should  think  'twould  make  a  splendid 
subject  —  you  could  use  such  sonorous,  resound- 
ing words." 

Quentina  shook  her  head  dismally. 

"  I  couldn't.  I  tried  it  once  or  twice ;  but  all  I 
could  think  of  was  '  Hark,  from  the  tombs  a  dole- 
ful sound  ' ;  then  somebody  would  cough,  and  I  just 
couldn't  get  any  further."  Her  voice  was  tragic 
in  spite  of  its  drawl. 

"  You  poor  thing,"  sympathized  Genevieve. 
"  But  we  —  we're  glad  to  see  you,  even  for  this 
little,  and  even  if  we  can't  feel  you!  But,  Quen- 
tina, you'll  write  —  sure  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I'll  write,"  nodded  Ouentina,  backing  sor- 
rowfully away.  "  Good-by,  Happy  Hexagons, 
good-by !  " 

"  So  that  is  your  Quentina  ?  "  said  Mr.  Hartley 


206  SIX  STAB  RANCH 

in  a  low  voice,  as  the  girls  were  waving  their  hands 
and  handkerchiefs.  "  Well,  she  is  pretty." 

"  Oh,  but  she  wasn't  half  so  pretty  to-day,"  re- 
gretted Genevieve.  "  She  looked  so  thin  and  tired. 
I  wanted  to  introduce  you,  Father,  but  I  didn't 
know  how  to  —  so  far  away." 

"  I    should    say    not,"    laughed    Mr.    Hartley. 

'Twould  have  been  worse  than  your  high  hand- 
shake back  East,"  he  added,  as  he  turned  to  speak 
to  Susie  Billings,  who  had  come  up  at  that  moment. 

Susie  Billings  was  in  her  khaki  suit  and  cowboy 
hat  to-day,  with  the  cartridge  belt  and  holster;  so, 
as  it  happened,  the  last  glimpse  the  girls  had  of 
Bolo  station  was  made  picturesque  by  a  vision  of 
"  Cordelia's  cowboy"  (as  Tilly  always  called 
Susie)  waving  her  broad-brimmed  hat. 

The  trip  to  San  Antonio  was  practically  unevent- 
ful, though  it  was  certainly  one  long  delight  to  the 
Happy  Hexagons,  who  never  wearied  of  talking 
about  the  sights  and  sounds  of  the  wonderful  coun- 
try through  which  they  were  passing. 

"Well,  this  isn't  much  like  Bolo;  is  it?"  cried 
Tilly,  when  at  last  they  found  themselves  in  the 
handsome  railroad  station  of  the  city  itself.  "  I 
shouldn't  think  Texas  would  know  its  own  self 
half  the  time  —  it's  so  different  from  itself  all  the 
time!" 

"  That's  all  right,  Tilly,  and  I  think  I  know  what 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          207 

you  mean,"  laughed  Genevieve;  "but  I  wouldn't 
advise  you  to  give  that  sentence  to  Miss  Hart  as 
your  best  example  of  logic.'' 

"Well,  I  was  talking  about  Texas,"  retorted 
Tilly,  saucily,  "  and  there  isn't  anything  logical 
about  Texas,  that  I  can  see.  There,  now  —  look !  " 
she  added,  as  they  reached  the  street.  "  Just  tell 
me  if  there's  anything  logical  in  that  scene !  "  she 
finished,  with  a  wave  of  her  hand  toward  the  pass- 
ing throng. 

Genevieve  laughed,  but  her  eyes,  too,  widened  a 
little  as  she  stepped  one  side  with  the  others,  for  a 
moment,  to  watch  the  curious  conglomeration  of. 
humanity  and  vehicles  before  them. 

In  the  street  a  luxurious  limousine  was  tooting^ 
for  a  ramshackle  prairie  schooner  to  turn  to  one 
side.  Behind  the  automobile  plodded  a  forlorn 
mule  dragging  a  wagon-load  of  empty  boxes.  Be- 
hind that  came  an  army  ambulance  followed  by  an 
electric  truck.  A  handsome  soldier  on  a  restive  bay 
mare  came  next,  and  behind  him  a  huge  touring  car 
with  a  pompous  black  chauffeur.  On  either  side  of 
the  touring  car  rode  a  grinning  boy  on  a  mustang, 
plainly  to  the  discomfort  of  the  pompous  negro 
and  the  delight  of  two  pretty  girls  in  white  who 
were  in  the  low  phaeton  that  followed.  A  bicycle 
bell  jangled  sharply  for  a  swarthy  Mexican  in  a  tall 
peaked  hat  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  farther  down 
the  street  two  solid-looking  men  in  business  suits 


208  SIX  STAR  EANCH 

were  waiting  for  a  pretty  Mexican  woman  with  a 
rebosa-draped  head  to  precede  them  into  a  car. 
Behind  them  a  huge  negro  woman  wearing  a  red 
bandana  about  her  head,  waited  her  turn.  And 
still  behind  her  a  severe-faced  young  woman  in  a 
tailored  suit  was  drawing  her  skirts  away  from  two 
almost  naked  pickaninnies. 

"Well,  no;  perhaps  it  isn't  really  logical," 
laughed  Genevieve.  "  But  it's  awfully  interest- 
ing!" 

"  I  chose  one  of  the  older  'hotels,"  said  Mr.  Hart- 
ley, a  little  later,  as  he  piloted  his  party  through 
the  doorway  of  a  fine  old  building. 

"  You  couldn't  have  chosen  a  lovelier  one,  I'm 
sure,  Father,"  declared  Genevieve,  as  she  looked 
about  her  with  shining  eyes. 

Genevieve  was  even  more  convinced  of  this  when, 
just  before  dinner,  in  response  to  a  summons  from 
Tilly's  voice  she  stepped  out  on  to  the  little  balcony 
leading  from  her  room.  The  balcony  overlooked  an 
inner  court,  and  was  hung  with  riotous  moon-vines. 
Down  in  the  court  a  silvery  fountain  played  among 
palms  and  banana  trees.  Here  and  there  a  cactus 
plant  thrust  spiny  arms  into  the  air.  Somewhere 
else  queen's  wreath  and  devil's  ivy  made  a  tiny 
bower  of  loveliness.  While  everywhere  were  elec- 
tric lights  and  roses,  matching  one  against  the  other 
their  brilliant  hues. 

"Genevieve,   I  —  I  think  I'm  going  to  c-cry," 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  209 

wailed   Tilly's   sobbing   voice    from   the   adjoining 
balcony. 

"  Cry !  —  when  it's  all  so  lovely  I  "  exclaimed 
Genevieve. 

Tilly  nodded. 

1  Yes.  That's  why  I  want  to/'  she  quavered. 
"  Honestly,  Genevieve,  if  I  stay  here  long  I  shall  be 
writing  poetry  like  Quentina  —  I  know  I  shall !  " 

"  If  you  do,  just  let  me  read  it,  that's  all,"  re- 
torted Genevieve,  saucily.  "Where's  Cordelia?" 

"  Off  somewhere  with  Elsie  and  Bertha.  She 
got  dressed  early  —  but  I  sha'n't  get  dressed  at  all 
if  I  don't  go  about  it." 

At  that  moment  there  was  the  sound  of  a  scream, 
then  the  patter  of  running  feet  in  the  court  below. 

c<  Why,  there  they  are  now,"  cried  Genevieve, 
leaning  over  the  railing.  "  Girls,  girls !  "  she  called, 
regardless  of  others  in  the  court.  "  Look  up  here  F 
What's  the  matter?" 

The  girls  stopped,  and  looked  up.  Cordelia,  only, 
cast  an  apprehensive  glance  over  her  shoulder. 

"  It's  an  alligator  in  the  fountain  in  the  other 
court,"  explained  Elsie.  "  Bertha  said  she  heard 
there  was  one  there,  and  so  we  went  to  see  —  and 
we  found  out." 

"  I  should  say-  we  did,"  shuddered  Cordelia,  still 
with  her  head  turned  backward.  "  I  sha'n't  sleep 
a  wink  to-night  —  I  know  I  sha'n't !  " 

"An  alligator  — really?"  cried  Tilly.      "Then 


210  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

I'm  going  to  hurry  and  get  ready  so  I  can  see  him 
before  dinner,"  she  finished,  as  she  whisked  into 
her  room. 

Dinner  that  night,  in  the  brilliantly  lighted, 
flower-decked  dining-room  was  an  experience  never 
to  be  forgotten  by  the  girls. 

"  I  didn't  suppose  there  were  such  bea-w-tiful 
dresses  in  the  world,"  sighed  Elsie,  looking  about 
her. 

Mr.  Hartley  smiled. 

"  I  reckon  you'd  think  so,  Miss  Elsie,"  he  said, 
41  if  you  could  see  the  place  when  it's  in  full  swing. 
It's  too  early  yet  for  the  real  tourist  season,  I  imag- 
ine. Anyhow,  there  aren't  so  many  people  here  as 
I've  always  seen  before." 

"  Well,  I  shouldn't  ask  it  to  be  any  nicer,  any- 
way," declared  Bertha;  and  the  rest  certainly 
agreed  with  her. 

Bright  and  early  the  next  morning  the  Happy 
Hexagons  and  Mr.  Hartley  started  out  sight-seeing. 
Mrs.  Kennedy  was  too  tired  to  go,  she  said. 

"  I'll  let  business  slip  for  an  hour  or  two,"1  Mr. 
Hartley  remarked  as  they  left  the  hotel ;  "at  all 
events,  until  I  get  you  young  people  started/' 

"  Hm-m ;  you  mean,  to  —  the  Alamo  ?  "  hinted 
Genevieve,  with  merry  eyes. 

"  Sure,  dearie !  The  Alamo  it  shall  be/'  smiled 
lier  father.  "  Then  to-morrow  I'll  take  you  to  Fort 
Sam  Houston  where  there  are  live  soldiers." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  211 

"  Oh,  is  there  an  army  post  here,  truly  ?  "  cried 
Tilly. 

"  Only  the  largest  in  the  country,"  answered  the 
Texan,  proudly. 

"Really?  Oh,  how  splendid!  I  just  love  sol- 
diers!" 

"  Really?  "  mimicked  Mr.  Hartley,  mischievously. 
"  They'll  be  pleased  to  know  it,  I'm  sure,  Miss 
Tilly." 

The  others  laughed.  Tilly  blushed  and  shrugged 
her  shoulders;  but  she  asked  no  more  questions 
about  Fort  Sam  Houston  for  at  least  five  min- 
utes. 

"  Now  where's  the  place  —  the  really,  truly 
place  ? "  demanded  Cordelia,  in  an  awed  voice, 
when  the  party  had  reached  the  Alamo  Plaza. 

"  The  place  —  the  real  place,  Miss  Cordelia,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Hartley,  "  where  the  fight  occurred,  was 
in  a  court  over  there;  and  the  walls  were  pulled 
down  years  ago.  But  this  little  chapel  was  part  of 
it,  and  this  is  what  everybody  always  looks  at  and 
talks  about.  The  relics  are  inside.  We'll  go  in 
and  see  them,  if  you  like." 

"  If  we  like !  "  cried  Genevieve,  fervently.  "  Just 
as  if  we  didn't  want  to  see  everything  —  every 
single  thing  there  is  to  see !  "  she  finished,  as  her 
father  led  the  way  into  the  dim  interior  under  the 
watchful  eyes  of  the  caretaker. 

Even  Tilly,  for  a  moment,  was  silenced  in  the 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


hush  and  somberness  of  the  place.  Genevieve  stole 
to  her  father's  side.  Mr.  Hartley,  with  bared  head, 
was  wearing  a  look  of  grave  reverence. 

'  You  appreciate  it,  don't  you,  Father?"  she 
said  softly.  "  You  have  always  talked  such  a  lot 
about  it." 

He  nodded. 

"  I  don't  see  how  any  one  can  help  appreciating 
it,"  he  rejoined,  after  a  moment,  looking  up  at  the 
narrow,  iron-barred  windows.  "  Why,  Genevieve, 
this  is  our  Bunker  Hill,  you  know." 

"  I  know,"  she  said  soberly.  "How  many  was 
it?  I've  forgotten." 

"  About  one  hundred  and  eighty  on  the  inside  — 
here  ;  and  all  the  way  from  two  to  six  thousand  on 
the  outside  —  accounts  differ.  But  it  was  thou- 
sands, anyway,  against  one  hundred  and  eighty  — 
and  it  lasted  ten  days  or  more." 

Genevieve  shuddered. 

"And  they  all  —  died?" 

"  Every  one  —  of  the  soldiers.  There  was  a 
woman  and  a  young  child  and  a  negro  servant  left 
to  tell  the  tale." 

"  That's  what  it  means  on  the  monument,  isn't 
it?"  murmured  Genevieve.  "'Thermopylae  had 
its  messenger  of  defeat  :  the  Alamo  had  none.'  ' 

"  Yes,"  said  her  father.  "  I've  always  wondered 
what  Davy  Crockett  would  have  said  to  that.  You 
know  he  was  here." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          213 

"  Wasn't  he  the  one  who  said,  *  Be  sure  you  are 
right,  then  go  ahead  '  ?  " 

"  Yes.  And  he  went  ahead  —  straight  to  his 
death,  here." 

Genevieve's  eyes  brimmed  with  tears. 

"  Oh,  it  does  make  one  want  to  be  good  and 
brave  and  true,  doesn't  it,  Father?" 

"  I  reckon  it  ought  to,  little  girl,'*  he  smiled 
gently. 

"  It  does,"  breathed  Genevieve.  A  moment  later 
she  crossed  to  Tilly's  side. 

Tilly  welcomed  her  with  subdued  joyousness. 

"  Genevieve,  please,  please  mayn't  we  get  out 
of  this?"  she  begged.  "Honestly,  I  feel  as  if  I 
were  besieged  myself  in  this  horrid  tomb-like 
place.  And  —  and  I  like  live  soldiers  so  much 
better!" 

Genevieve  gave  her  a  reproachful  glance,  but  in  a 
moment  she  suggested  that  perhaps  they  had  better 

g°- 

"  Oh,  but  that  was  lovely,"  she  sighed,  as  they 

came  out  into  the  bright  sunshine.  "  The  care- 
taker told  me  they  call  it  the  '  Cradle  of  Liberty,' 
here;  and  I  don't  wonder." 

Tilly  uptilted  her  chin  —  already  the  sunshine 
had  brought  back  her  usual  gayety  of  spirits. 

"  Dear  me!  what  a  lot  of  cradles  Liberty  must 
have  had!  You  know  Faneuil  Hall  in  Boston  is 
one.  Only  think  how  far  the  poor  thing  must  have 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


traveled  between  naps  if  she  tried  to  sleep  in  all  her 
cradles!" 

Even  Genevieve  laughed  —  but  she  sighed  re- 
proachfully, too. 

"  Oh,  Tilly,  how  you  can  turn  poetry  into  prose 
—  sometimes  !  "  Then  she  added  wistfully  :  "  How 
I  wish  I  could  see  this  Plaza  on  San  Jacinto  Day!  " 

"  What  is  that?  "  demanded  Tilly. 

"  The  twenty-third  of  April.  They  have  the 
Battle  of  the  Flowers  in  the  Plaza  here,  in  front 
of  the  Alamo.  I've  always  wanted  to  see  that.'* 

"  Hm-m;  well,  I  might  not  mind  that  kind  of 
a  battle  myself,"  laughed  Tilly. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          215 


CHAPTER   XVI 

TILLY    CROSSES   BRIDGES 

IN  the  afternoon  the  young  people  again  started 
out  to  explore  the  town.  This  time  Mr.  Hartley 
was  not  with  them. 

"  But  are  you  quite  sure  you  won't  get  lost  ?  " 
Mrs.  Kennedy  demurred  anxiously,  as  Genevieve 
was  putting  on  her  hat. 

"  No,  ma'am,"  returned  Genevieve,  with  calm 
truthfulness  and  a  merry  smile.  "  But,  dearie,  it's 
daylight  and  there  are  six  of  us.  What  if  we  do 
get  lost?  We've  got  tongues  in  our  heads,  and  we 
know  the  name  of  our  hotel  and  of  the  street  it's 
on." 

"  Very  well,"  sighed  Mrs.  Kennedy.  Then,  with 
sudden  spirit  she  added :  "  Dear  me,  Genevieve !  I 
shall  be  glad  if  ever  we  get  back  to  Sunbridge  and 
I  have  you  to  myself  all  quiet  again.  I'm  afraid 
you'll  never,  never  settle  down  to  just  plain  living 
after  these  irresponsible  weeks  of  one  long  play- 
day." 

It  was  Genevieve's  turn  now  to  sigh. 

"  I  know,  Aunt  Julia.  It  will  be  hard,  won't  it?  " 
she  admitted.  Then,  with  a  quick  change  of  man- 


216  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

ner,  she  observed  airily :  "  As  if  anything  could  be 
nicer  than  learning  to  cook,  and  keeping  my  stock- 
ings mended !  Why,  Aunt  Julia !  "  The  next  mo- 
ment, with  a  breezy  kiss,  she  was  gone. 

It  was  a  delightful  afternoon  that  the  girls  spent 
rambling  about  the  curiously  interesting  old  town, 
which  —  Cordelia  impressively  informed  them  — 
was  the  third  oldest  in  the  United  States.  They 
tried  to  see  it  all,  but  they  did  not  succeed  in  this, 
of  course.  They  did  stand  in  delighted  wonder  be- 
fore the  San  Fernando  Cathedral  with  its  square, 
cross-tipped  towers;  and  they  did  wander  for  an 
entrancing  hour  in  the  old  Mexican  Quarter,  with  its 
picturesque  houses  and  people,  its  fascinating  chili 
and  tamale  stands,  and  its  narrow,  twisting  streets, 
which  Genevieve  declared  were  almost  as  bad  as 
Boston. 

"Boston!"  bridled  Tilly,  instantly.  "Why, 
Boston's  tiniest,  crookedest  streets  are  great  wide 
boulevards  compared  to  these!  Besides,  when  we 
are  in  Boston  we  don't  have  to  cross  a  river  every 
time  we  turn  around." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  retorted  Genevieve, 
warmly.  "  Just  try  to  go  over  to  Cambridge  or 
Charlestown  and  see.  I'm  sure  I  think  Boston's 
got  lots  of  bridges." 

Tilly  sniffed  her  disdain. 

"  Pooh !  You're  leaving  Boston  when  you  cross 
those  bridges,  Genevieve  Hartley,  and  you  know  it. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          217 

But  just  look  at  them  here!  We  haven't  stirred 
once  out  of  San  Antonio,  and  I  think  I've  crossed 
five  bridges  in  the  last  seven  minutes.  I  can  imagine 
those  old  fellows  who  built  this  town  getting  tired 
of  building  houses,  and  saying :  '  And  now  let's  stop 
and  build  a  bridge  for  the  fun  of  it ! ' 

Genevieve  laughed  heartily. 

"  You've  won,  Tilly.  I'll  give  up,"  she  chuckled. 
"  I  hadn't  meant  to  tell  you ;  but  there  are  thirteen 
miles  of  river  twisting  in  and  out  through  the  city, 
and  —  there  are  seventeen  bridges." 

"Where  did  you  find  out  all  that?"  demanded 
Tilly,  suspiciously. 

"  In  a  guidebook  that  I  saw  last  night  at  the 
hotel.  It's  the  same  one,  I  reckon,  that  Cordelia's 
been  giving  all  her  information  from,"  said  Gene- 
vieve. 

"Hm-m;"  commented  Tilly.  "Now  I  know 
I've  crossed  five  bridges  in  the  last  seven  minutes ! " 

"  Well,  I  wouldn't  care  if  there  were  forty  miles 
of  river  and  fifty  bridges,"  retorted  Genevieve,  "  if 
they'd  all  have  such  lovely  green  banks  and  dear 
little  boats !  " 

"  Nor  I,"  agreed  two  or  three  emphatic  voices. 

Everywhere  and  at  every  turn  the  girls  found 
something  of  interest,  something  to  marvel  at. 
When  tired  of  walking  they  boarded  a  car;  and 
when  tired  of  riding,  they  got  off  and  walked. 

"  Well,  anyhow,  folks  seem  to  have  a  choice  of 


218  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

houses  to  live  in,"  observed  Tilly,  her  eyes  on  a 
quaint  little  white  bungalow  surrounded  by  heuisach 
and  mesquite  trees. 

"  Yes,  they  do,"  laughed  Genevieve  —  Genevieve 
was  looking  at  the  next  one  to  it :  an  old-fashioned 
colonial  mansion  set  far  back  from  the  street, 
with  a  huge  pecan  tree  standing  guard  on  each 
side. 

"  Well,  seems  to  me  just  now  a  hotel  would  look 
the  nicest  of  anything,"  moaned  Cordelia,  wearily. 
"  Girls,  I  just  can't  go  another  step  —  unless  it's 
toward  home,"  she  finished  despairingly. 

"Me,  too,"  declared  Tilly.  "I'm  just  plum 
locoed,  I'm  that  tired !  Say  we  hit  the  trail  for  the 
hotel  right  now.  Come  on ;  I'm  ready !  " 

Genevieve  laughed,  but  she  eyed  Tilly  a  little 
curiously. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  Sunbridge  \vill  say  to 
your  new  expressions  a  la  the  wild  and  woolly 
West  ?  "  she  queried. 

"  Just  exactly  what  they  said  to  you,  Miss  Gene- 
vieve," bantered  Tilly. 

"  Oh,  but  Genevieve's  were  natural,"  cut  in 
Bertha,  with  meaning  emphasis. 

"  All  the  more  reason  why  mine  should  be  more 
interesting,  then,"  retorted  Tilly,  imperturbably. 
And  with  a  laugh  Bertha  and  Genevieve  gave  it  up, 
as  with  tired  but  happy  faces,  they  set  out  for  the 
hotel. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          219 

At  breakfast  the  next  morning,  Mr.  Hartley  an- 
nounced cheerily: 

"  We'll  do  the  parks,  to-day,  and  the  Hot  Sulphur 
Well  and  Hotel;  and  finish  with  dress  parade  at 
Fort  Sam  Houston/' 

"  But  —  what  about  your  business?  "  asked  Gene- 
vieve. 

Mr.  Hartley  laughed. 

"  Oh,  that's  all  —  done/'  he  answered ;  then,  as 
the  puzzled  questioning  still  remained  in  her  eyes, 
he  added,  a  little  shamefacedly :  "  You  see,  there 
wasn't  much  business,  to  tell  the  truth,  dearie.  I 
reckon  my  real  business  was  to  show  off  the  state 
of  Texas  to  our  young  Easterners  here." 

"  You  darling !  "  cried  Genevieve,  rapturously, 
while  all  the  rest  of  the  Happy  Hexagons  stumbled 
and  stuttered  over  their  vain  attempts  at  thanking 
him. 

"  I  declare !  I  wish  we  could  give  him  our  Texas 
yell,  right  here,"  chuckled  Tilly,  turning  longing 
eyes  about  the  dining-room.  "  We  would  end  with 
'  Mr.  Hartley/  of  course." 

"  Tilly ! "  gasped  Cordelia,  in  open  horror. 

"  What  is  the  Hot  Sulphur  Well,  Mr.  Hartley, 
please?"  asked  Elsie,  who  had  not  heard  Tilly's 
remark. 

'  You'll  have  to  ask  some  one  who's  been  cured 
by  it,"  laughed  the  man.  "  They  say  there  are 
plenty  that  have  been." 


220  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Do  you  suppose  it  looks  any  like  an  oil  well?  " 
ventured  Cordelia. 

"  Sounds  a  bit  hot,  seems  to  me,  for  to-day," 
giggled  Tilly.  "  I  think  I  shall  like  the  parks  bet- 
ter." 

"  All  right ;  we'll  let  you  do  the  parks  —  all  of 
them,"  cooed  Genevieve,  wickedly.  "  There  are 
only  twenty-one,  you  know,  my  dear." 

"  Genevieve  Hartley,  if  you  remember  your  les- 
sons next  year  one  half  as  well  as  you  have  that 
abominable  guidebook,  you'll  be  at  the  head  of  your 
class !  "  remarked  Tilly,  severely,  as  the  others  rose 
from  the  table,  with  a  laugh. 

It  was  another  long,  happy  day.  The  parks,  as 
Tilly  had  predicted,  proved  to  be  cooler  than  the 
Hot  Sulphur  Well,  and  they  certainly  were  more 
enjoyable,  even  though  only  two  of  Genevieve's  an- 
nounced twenty-one  were  visited  —  Brackenridge 
Park,  and  San  Pedro  Park.  It  was  the  former  that 
Cordelia  enjoyed  the  most,  perhaps,  for  it  was  there 
that  she  saw  her  much-longed-for  buffalo.  Tired, 
but  still  enthusiastic,  they  reached  the  hotel  in 
time  to  dress  for  the  visit  to  Fort  Sam  Hous- 
ton, upon  which  Mrs.  Kennedy  was  to  accompany 
them. 

Getting  dressed  was,  however,  a  grand  flurry  of 
excitement,  for  time  and  space  were  limited;  and 
there  was  not  one  of  the  Happy  Hexagons  who  did 
not  feel  that  on  this  occasion,  at  least,  every  curl 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          221 

and  ribbon  and  shoe-tie  must  display  a  neatness  that 
was  military  in  its  precision. 

Perhaps  only  Elsie  of  all  the  girls  wept  over  the 
matter.  Her  eyes  were  red  when  she  knocked  at 
Genevieve's  door. 

"Why,  Elsie!" 

"Genevieve,  I've  come  to  say  —  I  can't  go," 
choked  Elsie. 

"Why,  Elsie,  are  you  sick?" 

"  Oh,  no ;  it's  —  clothes.  Genevieve,  I  simply 
haven't  anything  to  wear." 

"  Nonsense,  dear,  of  course  you  have !  We  don't 
have  to  dress  much  for  this  thing.  Where's  your 
white  linen  or  your  tan  or  your  blue?  " 

"  The  white  is  too  soiled,  and  the  other  two  have 
worn  places  that  show." 

"  But  there's  your  chambray  —  that  isn't  worn." 

Elsie  shook  her  head. 

"  But  I  can't  —  that,  truly,  Genevieve.  It's  got 
worse  and  worse  every  day,  until  now  anybody  can 
tell  Cora  and  Clara  apart !  " 

Genevieve  choked  back  a  laugh.  She  was  frown- 
ing prodigiously  when  Elsie  looked  up. 

"  I'll  tell  you,  Elsie,  I've  got  just  the  thing,"  she 
cried.  "  Wear  my  white  linen  —  it's  perfectly  fresh, 
and  'twill  fit  you,  I'm  sure." 

Elsie's  face  turned  scarlet. 

"  Oh,  Genevieve !  I  wouldn't  —  I  couldn't !  I'd 
never,  never  do  such  an  awful  thing,"  she  gasped. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


"  Why,  what  would  Aunt  Kate  say?  —  my  wearing 
your  clothes  like  that  !  Oh,  I  never  thought  of  your 
taking  it  that  way  !  Never  mind  —  I'll  fix  some- 
thing," she  choke^l,  as  she  turned  and  fled  down 
the  hall,  leaving  a  distressed  and  almost  an  angry 
Genevieve  behind  her. 

For  some  minutes  Genevieve  busied  herself  with 
her  own  toilet,  jerking  hooks  and  ribbons  into  place 
with  unnecessary  force;  then  she  turned  despair- 
ingly to  Mrs.  Kennedy,  whose  room  she  was  sharing. 

"  Aunt  Julia,  what's  the  use  of  having  anything 
to  give,  if  folks  won't  take  it  when  you  give  it?" 
she  demanded,  irritably. 

"  Not  having  followed  your  thoughts  for  the  last 
five  minutes,  my  dear,  I  fear  I'm  unable  to  give 
you  a  very  helpful  answer,"  smiled  Mrs.  Kennedy, 
serenely.  And  Genevieve,  remembering  Elsie's 
shamed,  red  face,  decided  suddenly  that  Elsie's 
secret  was  not  hers  to  tell. 

Half  an  hour  later  Mr.  Hartley  marshaled  his 
party  for  -the  start. 

''  You're  a  brave  sight,"  he  declared,  smiling 
into  the  bright  faces  about  him.  "  You're  a  mighty 
brave  sight;  and  I'll  leave  it  to  anybody  if  even 
the  boys  in  line  to-day  will  make  a  finer  show  !  " 

The  Happy  Hexagons  laughed  and  blushed  and 
courtesied  prettily;  and  only  Genevieve  knew  that 
the  smile  on  Elsie's  face  was  a  little  forced  — 
Elsie  was  wearing  the  green  chambray. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


There  was  an  awed  "  Oh-h  !  "  of  wonder  and 
admiration  when  Mr.  Hartley's  party  came  in 
sight  of  the  great  parade  grounds  at  Fort  Sam 
Houston.  There  was  a  still  deeper,  longer,  louder 
"  Oh-h-h  !  "  when,  sitting  at  one  end  of  the  grounds, 
the  girls  heard  the  first  stirring  notes  of  the  band. 

To  the  Hexagon  Club  it  was  a  most  wonderful 
sight  —  those  long  lines  of  men  moving  with  such 
perfect  precision.  Fresh  from  the  Alamo  as  the 
girls  were,  with  the  story  of  that  dreadful  slaughter 
in  their  ears  —  to  them  it  almost  seemed  that  there1 
before  them  marched  the  brave  men  who  years  ago 
had  given  up  their  lives  so  heroically  in  the  little 
chapel. 

It  was  Tilly  who  broke  the  silence. 

"  Oh,  I  do  just  love  soldiers,"  she  cried,  with  a 
hurried  glance  sideways  to  make  sure  that  Mr. 
Hartley  in  the  next  carriage  could  not  hear  her. 
"  Don't  you,  Genevieve?  "  But  Genevieve  was  too 
absorbed  to  answer. 

A  little  later  the  band  played  "The  Star- 
spangled  Banner,"  and  there  sounded  the  signal  gun 
for  the  lowering  of  the  colors.  In  the  glorious 
excitement  of  all  this,  even  Tilly  herself  forgot  to 
talk. 

After  dress  parade  a  certain  Major  Drew,  who 
knew  Mr.  Hartley,  came  up  and  was  duly  presented 
to  the  ladies.  He  in  turn  presented  the  officer  of 
the  day,  who  looked,  to  the  Happy  Hexagons,  very 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


handsome  and  imposing  in  sword  and  spurs.  After 
this,  at  Major  Drew's  invitation,  there  was  a  visit 
to  the  officers'  quarters,  and  on  the  Major's  broad 
galkry  there  was  a  cooling  refreshment  of  lemon- 
ade and  root  beer  before  the  drive  back  to  the  hotel. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    XVII 
"  BERTHA'S  ACCIDENT  " 

IT  had  been  decided  that  the  party  would  go  to 
New  Orleans  from  San  Antonio,  and  then  from 
there  by  boat  to  New  York. 

"  It'll  make  a  change  from  car-riding,  and  a 
very  pleasant  one,  I'm  thinking,"  Mr.  Hartley  had 
said;  and  the  others  had  enthusiastically  agreed 
with  him. 

It  was  on  the  five-hundred-and-seventy-two  mile 
journey  from  San  Antonio  to  New  Orleans  that 
something  happened.  In  the  Chronicles  of  the 
Hexagon  Club  it  fell  to  Genevieve  to  tell  the  story; 
and  this  is  what  she  wrote : 

"  It  seems  so  strange  to  me  that  we  should  have 
traveled  so  many  thousands  of  miles  on  the  rail- 
road without  anything  happening;  and  then,  just 
on  the  last  five  hundred  (we  are  going  to  take  the 
boat  at  New  Orleans)  — to  have  it  happen. 

"  We  have  had  all  sorts  of  amusing  experiences, 
of  course,  losing  trains,  and  missing  connections; 
but  nothing  like  this.  Even  when  we  had  to  take 
that  little  bumpy  accommodation  for  a  few  hours, 
and  it  was  so  accommodating  it  stopped  every  few 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


minutes  '  to  water  the  horses/  as  dear  Tilly  said, 
nothing  happened  —  though,  to  be  sure,  we  almost 
did  get  left  that  time  we  all  (except  Aunt  Julia) 
got  off  and  went  to  pick  flowers  while  our  train 
waited  for  a  freight  to  go  by.  But  we  didn't  get 
quite  left,  and  we  did  catch  it.  (Dear  Tilly  says 
we  could  have  caught  it,  anyway,  even  if  it  had 
started,  and  that  we  shouldn't  have  had  to  walk 
very  fast,  at  that!  Tilly  does  make  heaps  of  fun 
of  all  our  trains  except  the  fast  ones  on  the  main 
lines.  And  I  don't  know  as  I  wonder,  only  I'd 
never  tell  her  that,  of  course  —  that  is,  I  wouldn't 
have  told  her  before,  perhaps.) 

"  Well,  where  was  I  ?  Oh,  I  know  —  on  the 
sidetrack.  (I  had  to  laugh  here,  for  it  occurred  to 
me  that  that  was  just  where  I  was  in  the  story  — 
on  a  sidetrack!  I'm  not  telling  what  I  started  out 
to  tell  at  all.  It's  lucky  we  can  each  take  all  the 
room  we  want,  though,  in  these  Chronicles.) 

"  Well,  I'll  tell  it  now,  really,  though  I'm  still  so 
shaky  and  excited  my  hand  trembles  awfully.  It 
was  in  the  night,  a  little  past  twelve  o'clock  that  it 
happened.  I  was  lying  in  my  berth  above  Elsie's, 
and  was  wide-awake.  I  had  been  thinking  about 
Father.  He  has  been  such  a  dear  all  the  way.  I 
was  thinking  what  a  big,  big  dear  he  was,  when  IT 
happened. 

;'  Yes,  I  put  IT  in  capitals  on  purpose,  and  I 
reckon  you  would,  if  suddenly  the  car  you  were 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  227 

riding  in  began  to  sway  horribly  and  bump  up  and 
down,  and  then  stop  right  off  short  with  a  bang 
that  flung  you  into  the  middle  of  the  aisle!  And 
that's  what  ours  did. 

"  For  a  minute,  of  course,  I  was  too  dazed  to 
know  what  had  happened.  But  the  next  moment  I 
heard  a  scared  voice  wail  right  in  my  ear: 

'  Girls,  it's  an  accident  —  I  know  it's  an  acci- 
dent! I  told  you  we  should  have  an  accident  — 
and  to  think  I  took  off  my  shoes  to-night  for  the 
very  first  time ! ' 

"  I  knew  then.  It  was  Bertha,  and  it  was  an 
accident.  And,  do  you  know?  I'm  ashamed  to 
tell  it,  but  the  first  thing  I  did  right  there  and  then 
was  to  laugh  —  it  seemed  so  funny  about  Bertha's 
shoes,  and  to  hear  her  say  her  usual  '  I  told  you 
so ! '  But  the  next  minute  I  began  to  realize  what 
it  all  really  meant,  and  I  didn't  laugh  any  more. 

"  All  around  me,  by  that  time,  were  frightened 
cries  and  shouts,  and  I  was  so  worried  for  Father 
and  all  the  rest.  I  struggled,  and  tried  to  get  up; 
and  then  I  heard  Father's  voice  call :  '  Genevieve, 
Genevieve,  where  are  you?  Are  you  all  right?' 
Oh,  nobody  will  ever  know  how  good  that  dear 
voice  sounded  to  me! 

"  We  called  for  Aunt  Julia,  then,  and  for  the 
girls ;  but  it  was  ever  so  long  before  we  could  find 
them.  We  weren't  all  together,  anyway,  and  the 
crash  had  separated  us  more  than  ever.  Besides, 


228  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

everybody  everywhere  all  over  the  car  was  crying 
out  by  that  time,  and  trying  to  find  folks,  all  in  the 
dark. 

"  We  found  Aunt  Julia.  She  was  almost  tinder 
the  berth  near  me ;  but  she  was  so  faint  and  dazed 
she  could  not  answer  when  we  first  called.  I  was 
all  right,  and  so  were  Cordelia  and  Bertha,  only 
Bertha  bumped  her  head  pretty  hard  afterwards, 
looking  for  her  shoes.  Elsie  Martin  and  Alma 
Lane  were  a  little  bruised  and  bumped,  too;  but 
they  declared  they  could  move  all  their  legs  and 
arms. 

"  We  hadn't  any  of  us  found  Tilly  up  to  that 
time;  but  when  Elsie  said  that  (about  being  able 
to  move  all  her  legs  and  arms),  I  heard  a  little  faint 
voice  say  '  You  talk  as  if  you  were  a  centipede, 
Elsie  Martin ! ' 

"  '  Tilly ! '  I  cried  then.  '  Where  are  you  ?  '  The 
others  called,  too,  until  we  were  all  shouting  fran- 
tically for  Tilly.  We  knew  it  must  be  Tilly  for 
nobody  but  Tilly  Mack  could  have  made  that 
speech ! 

"  At  last  we  found  her.  She  was  wedged  in  under 
a  broken  seat  almost  at  our  feet.  It  was  at  the  for- 
ward end  of  the  car  —  the  only  part  that  seemed 
to  be  really  smashed.  She  could  not  crawl  out,  and 
we  could  not  pull  her  out.  She  gave  a  moaning 
little  cry  when  Father  tried  to. 

"  *  I  guess  —  some  of  my  legs  and  arms  don't 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  229 

go,'  she  called  out  to  us  with  a  little  sob  in  her 
voice. 

"  We  were  crazy  then,  of  course  —  all  of  us ; 
and  we  all  talked  at  once,  and  tried  to  find  out  just 
where  she  was  hurt.  The  trainmen  had  come  by 
this  time  with  lanterns,  and  were  helping  every  one 
out  of  the  car.  Then  they  came  to  us  and  Tilly. 

"  And  we  were  so  proud  of  Tilly  —  she  was  so 
brave  and  cheery!  I  never  found  out  before  what 
her  nonsense  was  for,  but  I  did  find  it  out  then.  It 
was  the  only  thing  that  kept  us  all  from  going  just 
wild.  She  said  such  queer  little  things  when  they 
were  trying  to  get  her  out,  and  she  told  them  if 
there  was  any  one  hurt  worse  than  she  to  get  them 
out  first.  She  told  Father  that  she  knew  now  just 
how  Reddy  felt  when  his  broncho  went  see-saw  up 
in  the  air,  because  that  was  what  her  berth  did. 

"  Well,  they  got  the  poor  dear  out  at  last,  and  ai 
doctor  from  the  rear  car  examined  her  at  once. 
Her  left  arm  was  broken,  and  she  had  two  or  three 
painful  bruises.  Of  course  that  was  bad  —  but  not 
anywhere  near  so  bad  as  it  might  have  been,  and  we 
were  all  so  relieved.  The  doctor  did  what  he  could 
for  her,  then  we  all  made  ourselves  as  comfortable 
as  possible  while  we  waited  for  the  relief  train. 

"  We  found  out  then  about  the  wreck,  and  the 
chief  thing  we  could  find  out  anywhere  was  what  a 
'  fortunate  '  wreck  it  was  I  The  engine  and  six  cars 
went  off  the  track  on  a  curve.  Just  ahead  was  a 


230  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

steep  bank  with  a  river  below  it,  and  of  course  it 
was  fortunate  that  we  did  not  go  down  that.  No 
one  was  killed,  and  only  a  few  much  injured.  The 
car  ahead  and  ours  were  the  only  ones  that  were 
smashed  any.  Yes,  I  suppose  it  was  a  l  fortunate 
wreck  '  —  but  I  never  want  to  see  an  unfortunate 
one.  Certainly  we  all  felt  pretty  thankful  that  we 
had  come  out  of  it  as  well  as  we  did. 

"  The  relief  train  came  at  last,  and  took  us  to  the 
next  city,  and  to-day  we  are  started  on  our  journey 
once  again.  We  expect  to  reach  New  Orleans  to- 
night, and  take  the  boat  for  New  York  Saturday. 
We  all  feel  a  little  stiff  and  sore,  but  of  course  dear 
Tilly  feels  the  worst.  But  she  tries  to  be  just  as 
bright  and  smiling  as  ever.  She  looks  pretty  white, 
though,  and  what  the  storybooks  call  '  wan/  I 
reckon.  She  says,  anyhow,  she  wishes  she  were  a 
centipede  —  in  arms  —  because  perhaps  then  she 
wouldn't  miss  her  left  one  so  much,  if  she  had 
plenty  more  of  them.  There  seems  to  be  such  a 
lot  of  things  she  wants  her  left  arm  to  do.  The 
doctor  says  it  wasn't  a  bad  break  —  as  if  any  break 
could  be  good! 

11  And  here  endeth  my  record  of  '  Bertha's  acci- 
dent '  —  as  Tilly  insists  upon  calling  it,  until  she's 
made  Bertha  almost  ready  to  cry  over  it." 

Owing  to  the  delay  of  the  accident,  Mr.  Hartley 
and  his  party  had  only  one  day  in  New  Orleans  be- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          231 

fore  the  boat  sailed;  but  they  made  the  most  of 
that,  for  they  wanted  to  see  what  they  could  of  the 
quaint,  picturesque  city. 

"  We'll  take  carriages,  dearie.  We  won't  walk 
anywhere/'  said  Mr.  Hartley  to  Genevieve  that 
morning.  "  In  the  first  place,  Mrs.  Kennedy  and 
Miss  Tilly  couldn't,  and  the  rest  of  us  don't  want 
to.  We  can  see  more,  too,  in  the  short  space  of 
time  we  have." 

So  in  carriages,  bright  and  early  Friday  morning, 
the  party  started  out  to  "  do  "  New  Orleans,  as 
Genevieve  termed  it.  Leaving  the  "  American  por- 
tion," where  were  situated  their  hotel  and  most  of 
the  other  big  hotels  and  business  houses  of  American 
type,  they  trailed  'happily  along  through  Prytania 
Street  and  St.  Charles  Avenue  to  the  beautiful 
"  Garden  District  "  which  they  had  been  warned 
not  to  miss.  They  found,  indeed,  much  to  delight 
them  in  the  stately,  palatial  homes  set  in  the  midst 
of  exquisitely  kept  lawns  and  wonderful  groves  of 
magnolia  and  oak.  Quite  as  interesting  to  them 
all,  however,  was  the  old  French  or  Latin  Quarter 
below  Canal  Street,  where  were  the  Creole  homes 
and  business  houses.  Here  they  ate  their  luncheon, 
too,  in  one  of  the  curious  French  restaurants, 
famous  the  world  over  for  its  delicious  dishes. 

With  the  disappearance  of  the  last  mouthful  on 
her  plate,  Tilly  drew  a  long  breath. 

"  I've  always  heard  Creoles  were  awfully  interest- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


ing,"  she  sighed.  "  Do  you  know  —  I  don't  think 
I'd  mind  much  being  a  Creole  myself!  " 

"  You  look  so  much  like  one,  too,"  laughed  Gene- 
vieve,  affectionately,  patting  the  soft,  fluffy  red  hair 
above  the  piquant,  freckled  little  face. 

At  five  o'clock  that  afternoon  a  tired  but  happy 
party  reached  the  hotel  in  time  to  rest  and  dress 
for  dinner. 

"Well,"  sighed  Genevieve,  "I'd  have  liked  a 
week  here,  but  a  day  has  been  pretty  good.  We've 
seen  enough  '  Quarters  '  to  make  a  '  whole,'  and  the 
Cathedral,  and  dozens  of  other  churches,  and  we've 
driven  along  those  lovely  lakes  with  the  unpro- 
nounceable names  ;  and  now  I'm  ready  for  dinner/' 

"  And  we  saw  a  statue  —  the  Margaret  Statue," 
cut  in  Cordelia,  anxiously.  "  You  know  it's  the 
first  statue  ever  erected  to  a  woman's  memory  in 
the  United  States.  We  wouldn't  want  to  forget 
that!" 

"  Well,  I  should  like  to,"  retorted  Genevieve, 
perversely.  "  It's  only  so  much  the  worse  for  the 
United  States  —  that  it  wasn't  done  before!" 

"  I  think  Genevieve  is  going  to  be  a  suffragette," 
observed  Tilly,  cheerfully,  as  they  trooped  into  the 
hotel  together. 

It  was  from  New  Orleans  that  Cordelia  Wilson 
wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  William  Hodges.  She  had 
decided  that  it  would  be  easier  to  write  her  bad 
news  than  to  tell  it.  Then,  too,  she  disliked  to  keep 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          233 

the  old  man  any  longer  in  suspense.    She  made  her 
letter  as  comforting  as  she  could. 

"  MR.  WILLIAM  HODGES,  SIR  :  —  "  she  wrote. 
"  I  am  very  sorry  to  have  to  tell  you  that  I  have 
looked,  but  cannot  find  your  oil  well  anywhere.  I 
did  find  a  man  who  had  heard  about  it,  but  he  said 
there  wasn't  any  well  at  all  like  what  the  Boston 
man  told  you  there  was.  He  said  it  was  a  bad 
swindle  and  he  knew  many  others  who  had  lost 
their  money,  too,  which  I  thought  would  please  you. 
O  dear,  no,  I  don't  mean  that,  of  course.  I  only 
mean  that  you  might  like  to  know  that  others  be- 
sides you  hadn't  known  any  more  than  to  put  money 
in  it,  too.  (That  doesn't  sound  quite  right  yet, 
but  perhaps  you  know  what  I  mean.) 

"  I  hope  you  won't  feel  too  bad  about  it,  Mr. 
Hodges.  I  saw  some  oil  wells  when  we  came 
through  Beaumont,  and  I  am  quite  sure  you  would 
not  like  them  at  all.  They  are  not  one  bit  like 
Bertha's  aunt's  well  on  her  farm,  with  the  bucket. 
In  fact,  they  don't  look  like  wells  at  all,  and  I  never 
should  have  known  what  they  were  if  Mr.  Hartley 
had  not  told  me.  They  are  tall  towers  standing  up 
out  of  the  ground  instead  of  stone  holes  sunk  down 
in  the  ground.  (It  is  just  as  if  you  should  call  the 
cupola  on  your  house  your  cellar  —  and  you  know 
how  queer  that  would  be ! )  I  saw  a  lot  of  them  — 
oil  wells,  not  cupolas,  I  mean  —  and  they  looked 


234  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

more  like  a  whole  lot  of  little  Eiffel  Towers  than 
anything  else  I  can  think  of.  (If  you  will  get  your 
grandson,  Tony,  to  show  you  the  Eiffel  Tower  in 
his  geography,  you  will  see  what  I  mean.)  Mr. 
Hartley  says  they  do  bore  for  them  —  wells,  I 
mean,  not  Eiffel  Towers  —  and  so  I  suppose  they 
do  go  down  before  they  go  up. 

"  I  saw  the  wells  on  the  way  between  San  An- 
tonio and  New  Orleans.  One  was  on  fire.  (Just 
think  of  a  well  being  on  fire!)  Of  course  we  were 
riding  through  a  most  wonderful  country,  anyway. 
We  saw  a  great  many  things  growing  besides  oil 
wells,  too,  as  you  must  know  —  rice,  and  cotton, 
and  tobacco,  and  sugar  cane,  and  onions,  and  quan- 
tities of  other  things.  I  picked  some  cotton  bolls. 
(I  spelt  that  right.  This  kind  isn't  b-a-11.)  I  am 
sending  you  a  few  in  a  little  box.  It  takes  75,000 
of  them  to  make  one  bale  of  cotton,  so  I'm  afraid 
you  couldn't  make  even  a  handkerchief  out  of  these. 

"  I  am  so  sorry  about  the  oil  well,  but  I  did  the 
best  that  I  could  to  find  it. 

"  Respectfully  yours, 

"  CORDELIA  WILSON." 


SIX  STAB  RANCH          235 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

THE   GOLDEN    HOURS 

LONG  -before  ten  o'clock  Saturday  morning  — 
the  hour  for  sailing  —  Mr.  Hartley  and  his  party 
were  on  board  the  big  steamship  which  was  to  take 
them  to  New  York.  Here,  again,  new  sensations 
and  new  experiences  awaited  the  Happy  Hexagons, 
not  one  of  whom  had  ever  been  on  so  large  a  boat. 

"  I  declare,  I  do  just  feel  as  if  I  was  going 
abroad,"  breathed  Cordelia,  in  an  awestruck  voice, 
as  she  crossed  the  gangplank. 

"  Well,  I'm  sure  we  are,  almost,"  exulted  Gene- 
vieve.  ft  We're  going  to  have  a  hundred  hours  of 
it.  You  know  that  little  pamphlet  that  told  about  it 
called  it  '  a  hundred  golden  hours  at  sea.'  Oh,  Cor- 
delia, only  think  —  one  hundred  golden  hours !  " 

"  You'll  think  it's  a  thousand,  if  you  happen  to 
be  seasick,"  groaned  Tilly.  (Tilly  was  looking 
rather  white  to-day.)  "  And  they  won't  be  golden 
ones,  either  —  they'll  be  lead  ones.  I  know  because 
I've  been  to  Portland  when  it's  rough." 

"  Well,  we  aren't  going  to  be  seasick,"  retorted 
Genevieve,  with  conviction.  "  We're  just  going  to 
have  the  best  time  ever.  See  if  we  don't!  " 


236  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Now,  dearie,"  said  Mr.  Hartley,  hurrying  up  at 
that  moment,  "  I  engaged  one  of  the  suites  for  Mrs, 
Kennedy,  and  I  think  Miss  Tilly  had  better  be  with 
her.  The  bed  will  be  much  more  comfortable  for 
her  poor  arm  than  a  berth  would  be,  and  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy can  look  after  her  better,  too,  in  that  way. 
The  little  parlor  of  the  suite  will  give  us  all  a  cozy 
place  to  meet  together.  There  are  two  berths  there 
which  they  turn  into  a  lounge  in  the  daytime.  I 
thought  perhaps  you  and  Miss  Cordelia  could  sleep 
there.  Then  I  have  staterooms  for  the  rest  of  us  — 
I  engaged  them  all  a  week  ago,  of  course.  Now 
if  you'll  come  with  me  I  reckon  we  can  set  up 
housekeeping  right  away,"  he  finished  with  a 
smile. 

"  Setting  up  housekeeping  "  proved  to  be  an  ab- 
sorbing task,  indeed.  It  included  not  only  bestow- 
ing their  belongings  in  the  chosen  places,  but  in- 
terviewing purser  and  stewards  in  regard  to  rugs, 
steamer  chairs,  and  other  delightfully  exciting  mat- 
ters. Then  there  was  the  joy  of  exploring  the  great 
ship  that  was  to  be  their  home  for  so  many  days. 
The  luxurious  Ladies'  Parlor,  the  Library  with  its 
alluring  books  and  magazines,  the  Dining  Saloon 
•with  its  prettily-laid  tables  and  its  revolving  chairs 
(like  piano  stools,  Tilly  said),  the  decks  with  their 
long,  airy  promenades,  all  came  in  for  delighted  ex- 
clamations of  satisfaction  which  increased  to  a 
chorus  of  oh's  and  ah's  when  the  trip  really  began, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  237 

and  the  stately  ship  was  wending  its  way  down  the 
Great  River  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

First  there  was  to  be  seen  the  city  itself,  nestled 
beyond  its  barricade  of  levees. 

"  Dear  me!  "  shuddered  Cordelia.  "  I  don't  be- 
lieve I'd  have  slept  a  wink  last  night  if  I'd  realized 
how  much  below  the  river  we  were.  Only  fancy  if 
one  of  those  levees  had  sprung  a  leak !  " 

"  Why,  they'd  have  sent  for  the  plumber,  of 
course,"  observed  Tilly,  gravely. 

"  Of  course !  Still  —  they  don't  look  very  leaky, 
to  me,"  laughed  Genevieve. 

"  Was  it  here,  or  somewhere  else,  that  a  man  (or 
was  it  a  child?)  put  his  arm  (or  was  it  a  finger?) 
in  a  little  hole  in  the  wall  and  stopped  the  leak,  and 
so  saved  the  town  ?  "  mused  Bertha  aloud  dreamily. 

"  Of  course  it  was,"  answered  Tilly  with  grave 
emphasis;  and  not  until  the  others  laughed  did 
Bertha  wake  up  enough  to  turn  her  back  with  a 
shrug. 

"  Well,  it  was  somewhere,  anyhow,"  she  pouted. 

"  As  if  we  could  doubt  that  —  after  what  you 
said,"  murmured  Tilly. 

"  But  they  have  'had  floods  here,  haven't  they?  " 
questioned  Alma  Lane. 

Genevieve  gave  a  sudden  laugh.  At  the  others' 
surprised  look  she  explained: 

"  Oh,  I'm  not  laughing  at  the  real  floods,  the 
water  floods  they've  had,  of  course.  It's  just  that  I 


238  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

happened  to  think  of  something  I  read  some  time 
ago.  They  had  one  flood  here  of  —  molasses." 

"  Mo — lass — es !  "  chorused  several  voices. 

"  Yes.  A  big  tank  that  the  city  used  to  have  for 
a  reservoir  had  been  bought  by  a  sugar  company  and 
turned  into  a  storage  for  molasses.  Well,  it  burst 
one  day,  and  a  little  matter  of  a  million  gallons  of 
molasses  went  exploring  through  the  streets.  They 
say  some  poor  mortals  had  actually  to  wade  to  dry 
land." 

"  Genevieve !    what  a  story,"  cried  Elsie. 

"  But  it's  true,"  declared  Genevieve.  "  A  whole 
half-mile  square  of  the  city  was  flooded,  honestly. 
At  least,  the  newspapers  said  it  was." 

"  How  the  pickaninnies  must  have  gloried  in  it," 
giggled  Tilly,  "  —  if  they  liked  '  bread  and  per- 
lashes  '  as  well  as  I  used  to.  Only  think  of  having 
such  a  big  saucerful  to  dip  your  bread  into !  " 

"  Tilly !  "  groaned  Genevieve. 

They  were  at  Port  Chalmette,  now.  The  Cres- 
cent City  lay  behind  them,  and  beyond  lay  the 
shining  river-roadway,  with  its  fertile,  highly-culti- 
vated plantations  bordering  each  side,  green  and 
beautiful. 

"  How  perfectly,  perfectly  lovely !  "  cried  Elsie. 
"  And  I'm  not  sick  one  bit." 

"  Naturally  not  —  yet,"  laughed  Tilly.  "  But  you 
just  wait.  We  don't  sail  the  Mississippi  all  the  way 
to  New  York,  vou  know." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          239 

"  I  wish  we  did,"  said  Genevieve,  her  eyes  dream- 
ily following  the  shore  line.  "  But  we're  only  on  it 
for  a  hundred  miles." 

"  I  don't,"  disagreed  Elsie.  "  I  want  to  see  the 
Gulf  Stream.  They  say  it's  a  deep  indigo  blue, 
and  that  you  can  see  it  plainly.  I  think  a  blue 
river  in  a  green  sea  must  be  lovely  —  like  a 
blue  ribbon  trailing  down  a  light  green  gown,  you 
know." 

:<  Well,  I  want  to  see  the  real  ocean,  'way  out  — 
out.  I  want  to  see  nothing  but  water,  water  every- 
where," declared  Alma  Lane. 

" '  And  not  a  drop  to  drink/  "  quoted  Tilly. 
"  Well,  young  lady,  you  may  see  the  time  when 
you'd  give  your  eyes  for  a  bit  of  land  —  and  just 
any  old  land  would  do,  too,  so  long  as  it  stayed 
put!" 

"What  does  it  feel  like  to  be  seasick?"  asked 
Cordelia,  interestedly. 

"  It  feels  as  if  the  bottom  had  dropped  out  of 
everything,  and  you  didn't  much  care,  only  you 
wished  you'd  gone  with  it,"  laughed  Tilly. 

"  Who  was  it  ?  —  wasn't  it  Mark  Twain  who  said 
that  the  first  half-hour  you  were  awfully  afraid  you 
would  die,  and  the  next  you  were  awfully  afraid 
you  wouldn't?"  questioned  Elsie. 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  whoever  said  it  knew  what 
he  was  talking  about,"  declared  Tilly.  "  You  just 
wait !  " 


240  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  We're  waiting,"  murmured  Genevieve,  de- 
murely. 

"  You  young  ladies  don't  want  to  forget  your 
exercise,"  said  Mr.  Hartley  smilingly,  coming  up  at 
that  moment  with  Mrs.  Kennedy.  "  We've  just 
been  five  times  around  the  deck." 

"  It's  eleven  laps  to  the  mile,"  supplemented  Mrs. 
Kennedy  with  a  smile. 

"  What's  a  lap?  "  asked  Cordelia. 

"  Sounds  like  a  kitten  on  a  wager  with  a  saucer 
of  milk,"  laughed  Tilly,  frowning  a  little  as  she  tried 
to  adjust  her  sling  more  comfortably. 

"  Well,  young  ladies,  we'll  show  you  just  what 
a  lap  is,  if  you'll  come  with  us,"  promised  Mr.  Hart- 
ley; and  with  alacrity  the  girls  expressed  them- 
selves as  being  quite  ready  to  be  shown. 

On  and  on,  mile  after  mile,  down  the  great  river 
swept  the  great  ship  until  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip  were  reached  and  left  behind;  then  on  and 
on  for  other  miles  to  the  narrow  South  Pass  where 
on  either  side  the  Eads  Jetties  called  forth  exclama- 
tions of  wonder. 

"Well,  you'd  better  '  ah '  and  '  urn/  "  laughed 
Genevieve.  "  They  happen  to  be  one  of  the  greatest 
engineering  feats  in  the  world;  that's  all." 

"  How  do  you  know  that?  "  demanded  Bertha. 

"  Don't  worry  her,"  cut  in  Tilly,  with  mock  sym- 
pathy. "  Poor  thing !  it's  only  a  case  of  another 
guidebook,  of  course." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          241 

;<  Well,  all  is,  just  keep  your  weather  eye  open," 
laughed  Genevieve,  "  for  when  we  make  the  South 
Pass  Lightship,  then  ho !  for  the  —  " 

"  Broad  Atlantic,"  interposed  Tilly. 

"  Well,  not  until  you've  passed  through  the  little 
matter  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,"  rejoined  Genevieve ; 
while  a  chorus  of  laughing  voices  jeered : 

;<  Why,  Tilly  Mack,  where's  your  geography?  " 

"  Don't  know,  I'm  sure,"  returned  Tilly,  imper- 
turbably.  "  Haven't  seen  it  since  I  studied  up 
Texas,"  she  finished  as  she  turned  away. 

The  first  night  aboard  ship  was  another  experi- 
ence never  to  be  forgotten  by  the  Happy  Hexagons. 
In  the  parlor  of  the  suite  Genevieve  and  Cordelia 
kept  up  such  an  incessant  buzz  of  husky  whispering 
and  tittering  that  Mrs.  Kennedy  came  out  from  the 
bedroom  to  remonstrate. 

"  My  dears,  you  mean  to  be  quiet,  I  know ;  but 
I'm  sure  you  don't  realize  how  it  sounds  from  our 
room.  Tilly  is  nervous  and  feverish  to-night  — 
the  day  has  been  very  exciting  for  her." 

"  And  she  has  tried  so  hard  to  keep  up,  and  seem 
as  usual,  too,"  cried  Genevieve,  contritely.  "  Of 
course  we'll  keep  still!  Cordelia,  I'm  ashamed  of 
you,"  she  finished  severely.  Then,  at  Cordelia's 
amazed  look  of  shocked  distress,  she  hugged  her 
spasmodically.  "As  if  it  wasn't  all  my  fault,"  she 
chuckled. 

In  other  parts  of  the  boat  the  rest  of  the  party 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


explored  their  strange  quarters  to  the  last  corner; 
then  made  themselves  ready  to  be  "  laid  on  the 
shelf/'  as  Elsie  termed  going  to  bed  in  the  narrow 
berth. 

"  I  shall  take  off  my  shoes  to-night,"  announced 
Bertha  with  dignity,  after  a  long  moment  of  silence. 
"  If  anything  happens  here  we'll  get  into  the  water, 
of  course,  and  I  think  shoes  would  only  be  a  nui- 
sance." 

For  a  moment  Elsie  did  not  answer;  then,  almost 
hopefully  she  asked 

"  I  suppose  if  anything  did  happen  we'd  lose  our 
clothes  —  even  if  we  ourselves  were  saved,  wouldn't 
we?" 

"  Why,  I  —  I  suppose  so." 

"  Yes,  that's  what  I  thought,"  nodded  Elsie,  hap- 
pily. Elsie,  at  the  moment,  was  engaged  in  taking 
off  a  somewhat  unevenly  faded  green  chambray 
frock. 


It  was  on  the  second  day  of  the  trip  that  Cordelia 
took  from  her  suit-case  a  sheet  of  paper,  worn  with 
much  folding  and  refolding,  and  marked  plainly, 
"  Things  to  do  in  Texas." 

"  I  suppose  I  might  as  well  finish  this  up  now," 
she  sighed.  "  I'm  out  of  Texas,  and  what  is  done 
is  done;  and  what  is  undone  can't  ever  be  done, 
now."  And  carefully  she  spread  the  paper  out  and 
reached  into  her  bag  for  her  pencil. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          243 

When  she  had  finished  her  work,  the  paper  read 
as  follows: 

See  the  blue  bonnet  —  the  Texas  state  flower. 
Find  out  if  it  really  is  shaped  like  a  bonnet.  Didn't. 

Bring  home  a  piece  of  prairie  grass.     Did. 

See  a  real  buffalo.    Did.     (But  it  was  in  a  park.) 

Find  Hermit  Joe  Sanborn's  son,  John,  who  ran 
away  to  Texas  twenty  years  ago.  Didn't. 

See  an  Osage  orange  hedge.    Did. 

See  a  broncho  bursted  (obviously  changed  over 
from  "busted").  Did. 

Find  out  for  Mrs.  Miller  if  cowboys  do  shoot  at 
sight,  and  yell  always  without  just  and  due  provoca- 
tion. Did.  They  do  not.  Cowboys  are  good,  kind 
gentlemen;  but  they  are  noisy,  and  some  rough- 
looking. 

See  a  mesquite  tree.    Did. 

Inquire  if  any  one  has  seen  Mrs.  Snow's  daughter, 
Lizzie,  who  ran  away  with  a  Texas  man  named 
Higgins.  Did.  (But  could  not  find  any  one  who 
had.) 

Pick  a  fig.     Didn't. 

See  a  rice  canal.    Did. 

Find  out  what  has  become  of  Mrs.  Granger's 
cousin,  Lester  Goodwin,  who  went  to  Texas  four- 
teen years  ago.  Did. 

See  cotton  growing,  and  pick  a  cotton  boll,  called 
"  Texas  Roses."  Did. 

See  peanuts  growing.    Did. 


244  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Inquire  for  James  Hunt,  brother  of  Miss  Sally 
Hunt.  Did.  (But  could  not  find  him.) 

See  a  real  Indian.    Did. 

Look  at  oil  well  for  Mr.  Hodges,  and  see  if  there 
is  any  there.  Did.  ( But  there  wasn't  any  there  like 
the  one  he  wanted.) 

The  paper  completed,  Cordelia  looked  at  it  with 
troubled  eyes. 

"  It  doesn't  sound  quite  right,"  she  thought. 
"  Somehow,  the  things  /  wanted  to  do  are  'most  all 
done,  but  I  didn't  find  but  just  one  of  those  people, 
and  seems  as  if  I  ought  to  have  done  better  than 
that.  Besides,  I'm  not  at  all  sure  Mrs.  Granger  will 
be  satisfied  with  what  I  did  find  for  her  —  a  cow- 
boy, so !  "  And  she  sighed  as  she  put  the  paper 
away. 

The  trip  across  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Dry  Tortu- 
gas  Light  was  nothing  but  a  rest  and  a  joy  to  every- 
body. It  was  still  delightful  and  wonderfully  inter- 
esting all  the  way  around  the  City  of  Key  West  and 
up  by  the  southeastern  coast  of  Florida  with  its 
many  lights  and  coral  reefs. 

Here  Genevieve's  guidebook  came  again  into 
prominence. 

"  The  Sand  Key  Light  'way  back  there  is  our 
most  southern  possession,  and  only  fifty-seven  miles 
from  the  line  of  the  Tropics,"  she  announced  glibly 
one  day.  "  We're  coming  to  the  American  Shoals 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          245 

Light,  the  Sombrero  Light,  Alligator  Light,  Carys- 
fort  Light  and  Fowey  Rock  Light." 

"  Mercy!  Didn't  you  sleep  any  last  night?  "  in- 
quired Tilly,  sympathetically. 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  you  think  it  must  have 
taken  all  night  to  learn  all  that/'  laughed  Genevieve. 
"  But  it  didn't" 

"  Maybe  you  know  some  more,  now,"  hazarded 
Tilly. 

"  Certainly.  After  we  strike  Jupiter  Light,  we 
veer  off  into  the  Atlantic  out  of  sight  of  land." 

"  I  thought  lighthouses  were  put  up  so  you 
wouldn't  '  strike '  them,"  observed  Tilly,  with 
smooth  politeness ;  "  but  then,  of  course  if  you  do 
strike  them,  it  is  quite  to  be  expected  that  you  veer 
off  into  the  Atlantic,  and  never  see  land  again.  Be- 
sides, I  found  all  those  lighthouses  and  things  on  a 
paper  last  night,  but  it  was  the  southern  trip  that 
did  all  that.  Maybe  we,  going  north,  don't  do  the 
same  things  at  all.  I  sha'n't  swallow  all  you  say, 
anyhow,  till  I  know  for  sure." 

"  Children,  stop  your  quarreling,"  commanded 
Bertha  Brown,  sternly.  "  Now  I've  been  learning 
something  worth  while.  /  know  the  saloon  deck 
from  the  promenade  deck,  and  I  can  rattle  off 
'  fore  '  and  '  aft '  and  '  port '  and  '  starboard  '  as 
if  I'd  been  born  on  shipboard !  " 

"Pooh!  You  wait,"  teased  Tilly.  "  There'll 
come  a  time  when  you  won't  think  you're  born  on 


246  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

shipboard,  and  you  won't  know  or  care  which  is 
fore  or  aft  —  any  of  you.  And  it  will  come  soon, 
too.  Those  were  porpoises  playing  this  morning 
—  when  Cordelia  thought  she  saw  the  sea  serpent, 
you  know.  I  heard  a  man  say  he  thought  it  meant 
a  storm  was  coming.  And  if  it  does  —  you  just 
wait/'  she  finished  laughingly. 

"  Oh,  I'm  waiting,"  retorted  Bertha.  "  I  like 
waiting.  Besides,  I  don't  think  it's  coming,  any- 
how!" 

But  it  did  come.  Off  the  coast  of  South  Carolina 
they  ran  into  a  heavy  storm,  and  the  great  ship 
creaked  and  groaned  as  it  buffeted  wind  and 
wave. 

In  the  little  parlor  of  the  suite  the  entire  party, 
banished  from  wet,  slippery  decks,  made  merry  to- 
gether, and  declared  it  was  all  fun,  anyway.  But 
gradually  the  ranks  thinned.  First  Mrs.  Kennedy 
asked  to  be  excused,  and  went  into  the  bedroom. 
Alma  Lane  went  away  next.  She  said  she  wanted 
a  drink  of  water  —  but  she  did  not  return,  and  very 
soon  Elsie  Martin,  looking  suspiciously  white  about 
the  lips,  said  she  guessed  she  would  go  and  find 
Alma.  She,  too,  did  not  return. 

Tilly  went  next.  Tilly,  naturally,  had  not  been 
her  usual  self  since  the  accident,  in  spite  of  her 
brave  attempts  to  hide  her  suffering.  She  slipped 
away  now  without  a  word;  though  just  before  she 
had  made  them  all  laugh  by  saying  a  little  shakily: 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          247 

"  I  declare,  I  wish  Reddy  were  here !  He'd  think 
he  was  riding  his  broncho,  sure." 

Just  when  Mr.  Hartley  disappeared,  no  one 
seemed  to  know.  One  moment  he  had  been  singing 
lustily  "  Pull  for  the  Shore  " ;  the  next  moment  he 
was  gone.  There  was  left  then  only  Bertha  with 
Genevieve  and  Cordelia  in  the  little  parlor;  and 
certainly  the  last  two  were  anything  but  sorry  when 
Bertha  rose  a  little  precipitately  to  go,  too,  saying : 

"I  —  I  think,  Genevieve,  if  you  don't  mind,  I'll 
go  and  take  off  my  shoes.  They  sort  of  —  hurt 
me." 

"  Honestly,  Cordelia,"  moaned  Genevieve,  when 
they  had  the  room  to  themselves,  "  I  reckon  we're 
not  caring  just  now,  whether  we're  fore  or  aft !  " 

It  was  not  really  a  serious  storm,  after  all,  and 
not  any  of  the  party  was  seriously  ill.  They  were  all 
on  deck  again,  indeed,  smiling  and  happy,  even  if  a 
little  white-faced,  long  before  the  journey  was 
ended. 

It  was  during  the  very  last  of  the  "  golden 
hours  "  that  Tilly,  her*  eyes  on  Bartholdi's  wonder- 
ful Statue  of  Liberty  just  ahead  of  them,  in  the 
New  York  Bay,  choked : 

"  I  declare,  I'd  just  like  to  give  that  lady  our 
Texas  yell.  Only  think,  girls,  our  Texas  trip  is 
almost  over!" 


248  SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER   XIX 

HERMIT   JOE 

THERE  was  not  quite  so  large  a  crowd  at  the 
Sunbridge  station  to  welcome  the  Texas  travelers 
as  there  had  been  to  see  them  off;  but  it  was  fully 
large  enough  to  give  a  merry  cheer  of  greeting,  as 
the  train  pulled  into  the  little  station. 

"  They're  all  here,  with  their  '  sisters  and  their 
cousins  and  their  aunts,'  "  laughed  Tilly,  stooping 
to  look  through  the  window  as  she  passed  down  the 
narrow  aisle  behind  Genevieve. 

"  I  should  say  they  were,"  answered  Genevieve 
a  little  wistfully.  "  We  haven't  got  any  one,  I'm 
afraid,  though.  Miss  Jane's  been  '  down  in  Maine,' 
as  you  call  it,  visiting,  and  she  doesn't  come  till  next 
week." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  have,"  chuckled  Tilly,  as  she 
caught  sight  of  an  eager  face  in  the  crowd. 
"There's  Harold  Day." 

"  Pooh !  He  didn't  come  to  welcome  me  any  more 
than  he  did  the  rest  of  you,"  retorted  Genevieve 
severely,  as  she  neared  the  door. 

And  what  a  confusion  and  chatter  it  all  was,  when 
"  their  sisters  and  their  cousins  and  their  aunts  "  — 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          249 

to  say  nothing  of  their  fathers  and  mothers  and 
brothers  —  all  talked  and  laughed  at  once,  each  try- 
ing to  be  first  to  kiss  and  hug  the  one  returning 
traveler,  before  bestowing  almost  as  cordial  a  wel- 
come on  all  the  others.  At  last,  however,  in  little 
family  groups,  afoot  or  in  carriages,  the  crowd 
began  to  leave  the  station,  and  Genevieve  found 
herself  with  Mrs.  Kennedy  in  the  family  carriage 
with  the  old  coachman  sitting  sedately  up  in  front. 
Mr.  Hartley  had  left  the  party  in  New  York,  after 
seeing  them  safely  aboard  their  Boston  train. 

"  Well,  it's  all  over,"  sighed  Genevieve,  happily, 
"  and  hasn't  it  been  just  lovely  —  with  nothing  but 
poor  Tilly's  arm  to  regret!  " 

"  Yes,  it  certainly  has  been  a  beautiful  trip,  my 
dear,  and  I  know  every  one  has  enjoyed  it  very 
much.  And  now  comes  —  school." 

Genevieve  made  a  wry  face;  then,  meeting  Mrs. 
Kennedy's  reproving  eye,  she  colored. 

"  There,  forgive  me,  Aunt  Julia,  please.  That 
wasn't  nice  of  me,  of  course,  when  you're  so  good 
as  to  let  me  come  another  year.  But  school  is  so 
tiresome !  " 

"  Tiresome !    Oh,  my  dear !  " 

"  Well,  it  is,  Aunt  Julia,"  sighed  the  girl. 

"  But  I  thought  you  liked  it  now,  dear.  You  took 
hold  of  it  so  bravely  at  the  last."  Mrs.  Kennedy's 
eyes  were  wistful. 

"  Oh,  of  course  I  wanted  to  pass  and  go  on  with 


250  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

the  rest  of  the  girls,  Aunt  Julia.  I  couldn't  help 
wanting  that.  But  as  for  really  liking  it  —  I 
couldn't  like  it,  you  know;  just  study,  study,  study 
all  day  in  hot,  poky  rooms,  when  it's  so  much  nicer 
out  of  doors !  " 

Mrs.  Kennedy  shook  her  head.  Her  eyes  were 
troubled. 

"  I'm  afraid,  my  dear,  that  this  trip  hasn't  helped 
any.  I  was  fearful  that  it  wouldn't  be  easy  for  you 
to  settle  down  after  such  a  prolonged  playday." 

"  Oh,  but  I  shall  settle,  Aunt  Julia,  I  shall  settle," 
promised  Genevieve  with  a  merry  smile.  "  I  know 
I've  got  to  settle  —  but  I  can't  say  yet  I  shall  like 
it,"  she  finished,  as  the  carriage  turned  in  at  the 
broad  driveway,  and  Nancy  and  Bridget  were  seen 
to  be  waiting  in  respectful  excitement  to  welcome 
them. 

There  would  be  five  days  to  "  get  used  to  it "  — 
as  Genevieve  expressed  it  —  before  school  began ; 
but  long  before  noon  of  the  first  of  those  five  days, 
Genevieve  had  planned  in  her  mind  enough  delight- 
ful things  to  occupy  twice  that  number  of  days.  Im- 
mediately after  dinner,  too,  came  something  quite 
unexpected  in  the  shape  of  a  call  from  Cordelia. 

Cordelia  looked  worried. 

"  Genevieve,  I've  come  to  ask  a  favor,  please. 
I'm  sure  I  don't  know  as  you'll  want  to  do  it,  but  — 
but  I  want  you  to  go  with  me  to  see  Hermit  Joe." 

"  To  see  —  Hermit  Joe! " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


"  O  dear,  I  knew  you'd  exclaim  out,"  sighed  Cor- 
delia; "but  it's  just  got  to  be  done.  I  suppose  I 
ought  not  to  have  told  you,  anyway,  but  I  couldn't 
bear  to  go  up  to  that  dismal'place  alone,"  she  fin- 
ished, tearfully. 

"  Why,  of  course  not,  dear  ;  and  I'm  sure  you 
did  just  right  to  tell  me,"  soothed  Genevieve,  in 
•  quick  response  to  the  tears  in  Cordelia's  eyes. 
"  Now  wait  while  I  get  my  hat  and  ask  Aunt  Julia. 
She'll  let  me  go,  T  know  ;  —  she'd  let  me  go  to  — 
to  London,  with  you." 

"  Just  please  say  it's  an  errand  —  an  important 
one,"  begged  Cordelia,  nervously,  as  Genevieve 
darted  into  the  house. 

In  two  minutes  the  girl  had  returned,  hat  in  hand. 

"  Now  tell  me  all  about  it,"  she  commanded, 
"  and  don't  look  so  frightened.  Hermit  Joe  isn't 
cross.  He's  only  solemn  and  queer.  He  won't  hurt 
us." 

"  Oh,  no,  he  won't  hurt  us,"  sighed  the  other. 
"  He'll  only  look  more  solemn  and  queer." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  of  what  I've  got  to  tell  him.  I  —  I 
suppose  I  ought  to  have  written  it,  but  I  just 
couldn't.  Besides,  I  hadn't  found  out  anything,  and 
so  I  didn't  want  to  write  until  I  was  sure  I  couldn't 
find  anything.  Now  it's  done,  and  I  haven't  found 
out  anything.  So  I've  got  to  tell  him." 

"Tell  him  what,   Cordelia?"   demanded  Gene- 


252  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

vieve,  a  little  impatiently.  "  How  do  you  suppose 
I  can  make  anything  out  of  that  kind  of  talk?  " 

"  O  dear!  you  can't,  of  course,"  sighed  Cordelia; 
"  and,  of  course,  if  I've  told  you  so  much  I 
must  tell  the  rest.  It's  Hermit  Joe's  son.  I  can't 
find  him." 

"  His  son!     I  didn't  know  he  had  a  son." 

"  He  has.  His  name  is  John.  He  ran  away  to 
Texas  twenty  years  ago." 

"  And  you've  'been  hunting  for  him,  too  —  besides 
that  Lester  Goodwin  who  turned  out  to  be  Reddy?  " 

Cordelia  nodded.     She  did  not  speak. 

Genevieve  laughed  unexpectedly. 

"  Of  all  the  funny  things  I  ever  heard  of !  Pray, 
how  many  more  lost  people  have  you  been  looking 
for  in  the  little  state  of  Texas  ?  " 

Cordelia  moved  her  shoulders  uneasily. 

"I  —  I'd  rather  not  tell  that,  please,  Genevieve," 
she  stammered,  with  a  painful  blush. 

Genevieve  stared  dumbly.  She  had  not  supposed 
for  a  moment  that  Cordelia  had  been  looking  for 
any  more  lost  people.  She  had  asked  the  question 
merely  as  an  absurdity.  To  have  it  taken  now  in 
this  literal  fashion,  and  evidently  with  good  reason 
—  Genevieve  could  scarcely  believe  the  evidence  of 
her  senses.  Another  laugh  was  almost  on  her  lips, 
but  the  real  distress  in  Cordelia's  face  stopped  it  in 
time. 

"  You  poor  dear  little  thing,"  she  cried  sympa- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          253 

thetically.     "  What  a  shame  to  bother  you  so !     I 
wonder  you  had  any  fun  at  all  on  the  trip." 

"  Oh,  but  I  did,  Genevieve !  You  don't  know  how 
beautiful  it  all  was  to  me  —  only  of  course  I  felt 
sorry  to  be  such  a  failure  in  what  folks  wanted  me 
to  do.  You  see,  Reddy  was  the  only  one  I  found, 
and  I'm  very  much  worried  for  fear  he  won't  be 
satisfactory." 

Genevieve  did  laugh  this  time. 

"  Well,  if  he  isn't,  I  don't  see  how  that  can  be 
your  fault,"  she  retorted.  "  Come,  now  let's  forget 
all  this,  and  just  talk  Texas  instead." 

"  Aunt  Mary  says  I  do  do  that  —  all  the  time," 
rejoined  Cordelia,  with  a  wistful  smile.  "  Aunt 
Sophronia  is  there,  too,  and  she  says  I  do.  Still, 
she  likes  to  hear  it,  I  verily  believe,  else  she  wouldn't 
ask  me  so  many  questions,"  concluded  Cordelia,  lift- 
ing her  chin  a  little. 

"  I'd  like  to  take  Miss  Jane  there  sometime," 
observed  Genevieve,  with  a  gravity  that  was  a  little 
unnatural. 

"  Oh,  mercy !  "  exclaimed  Cordelia  —  then  she 
stopped  short  with  a  hot  blush.  "I  —  I  beg  your 
pardon,  I'm  sure,  Genevieve,"  she  went  on  stam- 
meringly.  "  I  ought  not  to  have  spoken  that  way, 
of  course.  I  was  only  thinking  of  Miss  Jane  and 
—  and  the  cowboys  that  day  they  welcomed  us." 

'  Yes,  I  know,"  rejoined  Genevieve,  her  lips 
puckered  into  a  curious  little  smile. 


254  SIX   STAR  RANCH 

"  I  don't  believe  I'm  doing  any  more  talking, 
anyway,  than  Tilly  is,"  remarked  Cordelia,  after  a 
moment's  silence.  "  Of  course,  Tilly,  with  her  poor 
arm,  would  make  a  lot  of  questions,  anyway;  but 
she  is  talking  a  great  deal." 

"  I  suppose  she  is,"  chuckled  Genevieve,  "  and  we 
all  know  what  she'll  say." 

"  But  she  says  such  absurd  things,  Genevieve. 
Why,  Charlie  Brown  —  you  know  he  calls  us  the 

*  Happy  TVjragons  '  now  —  well,  he  told  me  that 
Tilly'd    been    bragging    so    terribly   about    Texas, 
and  all  the  fine  things  there  were  there,  that  he  asked 
her   this   morning   real   soberly  —  you   know   how 
Charlie  Brown  can  ask  questions,  sometimes  —  " 

"  I  know,"  nodded  Genevieve. 

"  Well,  he  asked  her,  solemn  as  a  judge,  *  Do 
these  wondrous  tamales  of  yours  grow  on  trees 
down  there  ?  ' 

"  '  Oh,  yes,'  Tilly  assured  him  serenely.  And 
when  Charlie,  of  course,  declared  that  couldn't  be, 
she  just  shrugged  her  shoulders  and  answered: 

*  Well,   of   course,    Charlie,   I'll  own  I   didn't  see 
tamales  growing  on  trees,  but  Texas  is  a  very  large 

'state,  and  while  I  didn't,  of  course,  see  anywhere 
near  all  of  it,  yet  I  saw  so  much,  and  it  was  all  so 
different  from  each  other,  that  I'm  sure  I  shouldn't 
want  to  say  that  I  knew  they  didn't  have  tamale 
trees  somewhere  in  Texas ! '  And  then  she 
marched  off  in  that  stately  way  of  hers,  and 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          255 

«M,   .0eMMHKfl'WMMMMBa»M«m«E»MMM»M«3«=»^ 

Charlie  declared  he  began  to  feel  as  if  tamale  trees 
did  grow  in  Texas,  and  that  he  ought  to  go  around 
telling  folks  so." 

"  What  a  girl  she  is ! "  laughed  Genevieve. 
"  But,  Cordelia,  she  isn't  all  nonsense.  We  found 
that  out  that  dreadful  night  of  the  accident." 

"Indeed  we  did,"  agreed  Cordelia,  loyally; 
then,  with  a  profound  sigh  she  added :  "  O  dear ! 
for  a  minute  I'd  actually  forgotten  —  Hermit  Joe." 

Hermit  Joe  lived  far  up  the  hillside  in  a  little  hut 
surrounded  by  thick  woods.  A  tiny  path  led  to  his 
door,  but  it  was  seldom  trodden  by  the  foot  of  any- 
body but  of  Hermit  Joe  himself  —  Hermit  Joe  did 
not  encourage  visitors,  and  visitors  certainly  were 
not  attracted  by  Hermit  Joe's  stern  reticence  on  all 
matters  concerning  himself  and  every  one  else. 

To-day,  as  the  girls  entered  the  path  at  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  the  sun  went  behind  a  passing  cloud, 
and  the  gloom  was  even  more  noticeable  than  usual. 

"  Mercy !  I'm  glad  Hermit  Joe  isn't  dangerous 
and  doesn't  bite,"  whispered  Genevieve,  peering  into 
the  woods  on  either  side.  "  Aunt  Julia  says  he  is 
really  a  very  estimable  man  —  Cordelia,  if  I  was  a 
man  I  just  wouldn't  be  an  '  estimable '  one." 

"  Genevieve !  "  gasped  the  shocked  Cordelia. 

Genevieve  laughed. 

"  Oh,  I'd  be  it,  of  course,  my  dear,  only  I  wouldn't 
want  to  be  called  it.  It's  the  word  —  it  always 
makes  me  think  of  side  whiskers  and  stupidity." 


256  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Oh,  Genevieve !  "  cried  Cordelia,  again. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  Aunt  Julia  told  me  that 
Hermit  Joe  was  really  a  very  nice  man.  She  used 
to  know  him  well  before  a  great  sorrow  drove  him 
into  the  woods  to  live  all  by  himself." 

Cordelia  nodded  sadly. 

"  That  was  his  son  that  ran  away.  Aunt  Mary 
told  me  that  long  ago.  She  told  us  children  never 
to  tease  him,  or  worry  him,  but  that  we  needn't  be 
afraid  of  him,  either.  He  wouldn't  hurt  us.  I 
heard  once  that  he  was  always  stern  and  sober,  and 
that  that  was  why  his  son  ran  away.  But  that  it 
'most  killed  him  —  the  father  —  when  he  did  go. 
And  now  I  couldn't  find  him!  Isn't  it  terrible, 
Genevieve?"  Cordelia's  eyes  were  full  of  tears. 

"  Yes,"  sighed  Genevieve.  "  But  you  aren't  to 
blame,  dear." 

It  was  very  beautiful  in  the  hushed  green  light 
of  the  woods,  with  now  and  then  a  bird-call,  or  the 
swift  scampering  of  a  squirrel's  feet  to  break  the 
silence.  But  the  girls  were  not  noticing  birds  or 
squirrels  to-day,  and  they  became  more  and  more 
silent  as  they  neared  the  end  of  their  journey. 
The  little  cabin  was  almost  in  sight  when  Gene- 
vieve caught  Cordelia's  arm  convulsively. 

"  Cordelia,  sh-h-h !  Isn't  that  some  one  —  talk- 
ing?" she  whispered. 

Cordelia  held  her  right  foot  suspended  in  the  air 
for  a  brief  half  minute. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          257 

"  Yes.  That's  Hermit  Joe's  voice.  He  is  talk- 
ing to  some  one." 

"  Then  there  must  be  somebody  there  with  him." 
1  Yes.  Genevieve,  I  —  I  guess  I  won't  tell  him 
to-day,"  faltered  Cordelia.  "  Let's  go  back.  I'll 
come  again  to-morrow." 

"  Nonsense !  Go  back,  and  have  you  worrying 
about  this  thing  another  twenty-four  hours?  No, 
indeed!  Come,  Cordelia,  we  must  tell  him  now. 
I  think  we  ought  to  do  it,  really." 

"  All  right,"  sighed  the  other  despairingly. 
"  Come,  then."  The  next  minute  she  gave  a  sharp 
cry.  "Why,  Mr.  Edwards!"  she  breathed. 

They  had  come  to  the  turn  which  brought  the 
cabin  into  plain  sight;  and  on  the  stone  step  with 
Hermit  Joe  sat  the  man  Cordelia  had  last  seen 
driving  away  from  the  Six  Star  Ranch  in  Texas. 

Both  men  rose  abruptly.  The  younger  stepped 
forward.  There  was  a  whimsical  smile  on  his  lips, 
'but  his  eyes  were  wonderfully  tender. 

"  Yes,  '  Mr.  Edwards,'  Miss  Cordelia  —  but  Mr. 
'  Jonathan  Edwards  Sanborn.'  You  see,  you  didn't 
know  all  my  name,  perhaps." 

To  every  one's  surprise  and  consternation  Cor- 
delia  sat  down  exactly  where  she  was,  and  began 
to  cry  softly. 

"Why,  Cordelia!" 

Genevieve  was  at  her  friend's  side  at  once.  Her- 
mit Joe  looked  plainly  distressed.  Mr.  Jonathan 


258  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Edwards   Sanborn  hurried  forward  in   frightened 
dismay. 

"  Oh,  but  Miss  Cordelia,  don't,  please  don't  — 
I  beg  of  you!  Don't  you  understand?  I  am  John 
Sanborn,  Hermit  Joe's  son;  and  'twas  all  through 
you  that  I  came  home  again. " 

Cordelia  only  sobbed  the  harder. 

Genevieve  dropped  on  her  knees  at  the  girl's  side, 
and  put  her  arms  about  her. 

"  Cordelia,  Cordelia,  dear  —  don't  you  see  ?  — 
it's  all  come  out  right.  You  did  find  him,  after 
all !  Why  are  you  crying  so  ?  " 

"  T-that's  why/'  stuttered  Cordelia,  smiling 
through  tear-wet  eyes.  "  It's  because  I  d-did  find 
him,  and  I'm  so  glad,  and  everything !  " 

"But,  if  you're  glad,  why  cry?"  began  Hermit 
Joe's  son,  in  puzzled  wonder,  but  Genevieve  patted 
Cordelia's  back,  and  smiled  cheerily. 

"That's  all  right,  Cordelia,"  she  declared.  "I 
know  just  how  you  feel.  Now  you  know  what  was 
the  matter  with  me  when  you  girls  gave  me  the 
Texas  yell  at  the  station.  Just  cry  all  you  like !  " 

As  if  permission,  only,  were  all  she  wanted,  Cor- 
delia wiped  her  eyes  and  smiled  shyly  into  Mr. 
Jonathan  Edwards  Sanborn's  face. 

"  It  is  really  you,  isn't  it?  "  she  murmured. 

"  It  certainly  is,  Miss  Cordelia." 

"  And  you  wouldn't  have  come  if  it  hadn't  been 
for  what  I  said?" 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          259 

"  No.  You  set  me  to  thinking,  and  when  I  got 
to  thinking  I  couldn't  stop.  And,  of  course,  when 
I  couldn't  stop  thinking  I  had  to  come;  that's  all." 

"I'm  so  glad,"  sighed  Cordelia;  then,  interest- 
edly :  "  How  long  have  you  been  here  ?  " 

"  Only  since  day  before  yesterday.  No  one  in 
the  village  knows  I'm  here,  I  suspect.  We've  been 
talking  over  our  plans  —  father  and  I.  I  want  him 
to  come  West  with  me." 

Cordelia  got  up  from  the  ground. 

"  I'm  so  glad,"  she  said  again,  simply.  "  Gene- 
vieve,  I  think  we  ought  to  be  going." 

As  she  turned  toward  the  path,  Hermit  Joe  ad- 
vanced so  that  he  intercepted  her. 

"  Miss  Cordelia,  I  would  like  to  tell  how  —  but 
I  can't.  Still  —  I  wish  you  could  know  how  happy 
you've  made  me." 

Hermit  Joe  spoke  with  evident  difficulty.  His 
lips,  so  long  unused  to  speaking,  stumbled  over  the 
words;  but  his  eyes  glowed  as  with  hidden  fires, 
and  his  whole  face  was  alight  with  joy. 


260  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

CHAPTER   XX 

THE   NEW   BOY 

THE  first  day  of  school,  for  Genevieve,  was  not 
a  success.  Before  two  hours  of  it  had  passed,  in- 
deed, she  declared  to  herself  that  Miss  Hart,  her 
new  teacher,  was  not  at  all  promising,  and  that 
she  did  not  like  her  nearly  so  well  as  she  had  liked 
Miss  Palmer  the  year  before.  Making  the  final 
arrangements  as  to  her  studies  and  recitations,  too, 
Genevieve  privately  voted  a  bore;  and  more  than 
once  her  eyes  turned  longingly  to  the  beautiful  Sep- 
tember sunshine  out  of  doors. 

At  recess  time  the  Happy  Hexagons  met  in  the 
corridor  and  held  what  proved  to  be  an  indignation 
meeting. 

"  Well,  I  for  one  don't  like  her  a  bit,"  declared 
Tilly,  perking  up  the  bow  ends  of  the  black  sling 
that  hung  about  her  neck. 

"  Nor  I,"  echoed  Genevieve. 

"  Not  much  like  Miss  Palmer  last  year,  nor  Miss  j 
Jones,"  said  Bertha.     "  I  told  you  we  wouldn't  get 
such  a  good  one  this  term." 

"  But,  girls,  I  think  we  ought  to  try  to  like  her," 
ventured  Cordelia,  in  a  voice  that  told  very  plainly 
how  she  expected  her  remark  to  be  received. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          261 

"  Of  course,"  sniffed  Tilly,  disdainfully. 

"  Oh,  but  I'm  sure  she  won't  be  half  bad  when 
we  come  to  know  her,"  cried  Alma  Lane.  "  She 
was  so  nervous  this  morning,  and  I  think  acted 
troubled  over  something/' 

Tilly  tossed  her  head. 

"  Troubled !  I  should  think  we  were  the  ones 
that  were  troubled.  Did  you  ever  see  such  a  lot  of 
rules  and  regulations  about  what  not  to  do?  She's 
scarcely  left  a  thing  we  can  do." 

"  Oh,  yes,  she  has,"  groaned  Genevieve.  "  We 
can  sit  still  and  look  pleasant,  and  study,  study, 
study!  I  reckon  I  shall  have  to,  all  right,  too,  this 
term,  at  the  rate  my  studies  and  recitation  hours 
are  piling  up,"  she  finished,  as  the  bell  rang  for 
them  to  go  to  their  seats. 

All  days  —  even  the  worst  of  them  —  come  to 
an  end  sometime;  and  at  last  Genevieve  was  free 
to  go  home.  Half-way  to  the  Kennedy  house  a 
soft  whistle  of  the  Happy  Hexagons'  Club  song 
sounded  behind  her;  and  a  moment  later  Harold 
Day  caught  up  with  her. 

"Well?"  he  queried. 

"But  it  isn't  'well'  at  all,"  wailed  Genevieve, 
with  a  shake  of  her  head. 

"  So  I  judged  from  your  face." 

"  But  —  have  you  ever  had  Miss  Hart  for  a 
teacher?" 

"No;    she's  new  this  year.     We  had  Miss  Hoi- 


SIX  STAR   RANCH 


brook  in  her  place  last  year,  and  she  was  fine;  but 
she  got  married,  you  know.  She  herself  recom- 
mended Miss  Hart  for  the  position,  I  believe." 

"  Did  she  ?  "  sighed  Genevieve. 

"  What  a  lugubrious  face  !  "  laughed  Harold. 
"  Suppose  you  tell  me  what  is  the  matter  with  Miss 
Hart,  eh?" 

"  I  can't.  It's  just  an  intangible,  indefinable 
'  don't-like-her  '  feeling.  She  doesn't  sit  still  a 
minute,  and  she's  awful  on  rules.  Tilly  calls  her 
'Miss  Hartless.'" 

Harold  laughed. 

"  Trust  Tilly  to  call  her  something  !  "'  he  re- 
joined. "  But  I  don't  believe  the  lady  will  be  half 
bad  when  you  get  used  to  her." 

"  That's  what  your  cousin  Alma  says." 

"Well,  I  believe  she's  right,"  declared  Harold. 
"  It  sounds  to  me  as  if  Miss  Hart  were  nervous 
and  afraid." 

Genevieve  opened  her  eyes. 

"  Afraid  !    A  teacher  afraid!  " 

"  Wouldn't  you  be  afraid  if  you  had  to  follow 
where  you  know  there  had  been  such  favorites  as 
Miss  Holbrook  and  Miss  Palmer  were  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  never  thought  of  it  that  way,"  frowned 
Genevieve.  "  I  didn't  suppose  teachers  ever  had  — 
er  —  feelings  like  that." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  teachers  are  —  folks,  like  the 
rest  of  us,"  hazarded  the  youth,  as  he  stopped  a 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  263 

minute    at    the     foot     of     the     Kennedys'     front 
walk. 

Genevieve  shook  her  head  mischievously. 

"  I  don't,"  she  protested.  "  They  always  seem 
to  me  like  things  you  buy  for  school,  just  like  you 
do  the  books  and  chalk,  and  that  they  come  in  boxes 
all  graded  and  sorted  —  primary,  grammar,  high 
school,  French,  German,  and  all  that,"  she  flashed 
over  her  shoulder,  as  she  skipped  up  the  walk 
toward  the  house. 

"  There !  "  sighed  Genevieve,  bounding  up  on  to 
the  veranda,  and  dropping  her  books  into  a  chair. 
"  I'm  going  for  a  ride  with  Tilly,  Aunt  Julia,  please, 
if  you  don't  mind." 

"  Very  well,  dear;  but  don't  stay  too  long. 
There's  your  practising,  you  know." 

Genevieve  scowled,  and  made  an  impatient  ges- 
ture—  neither  of  which  Mrs.  Kennedy  seemed  to 
notice. 

"  You  have  your  watch,  I  see,"  she  went  on 
serenely;  "so  I  don't  think  you'll  forget." 

'Genevieve  bit  her  lip.  She  threw  a  hurried 
glance  into  Mrs.  Kennedy's  face ;  but  that,  too, 
[Mrs.  Kennedy  did  not  appear  to  notice. 

"  No,  Aunt  Julia,"  said  Genevieve,  a  little  con- 
strainedly, as  she  went  to  saddle  her  horse,  "  I 
sha'n't  —  forget." 

When  quite  by  herself  around  the  corner  of  the 
house,  she  drew  a  long  breath. 


264  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Sometimes/'  she  muttered  fiercely  behind  her 
teeth,  "  sometimes  I  —  I  just  wish  folks  weren't 
so  good  to  me!  Seems  to  me  I  just  can't  waste 
a  whole  hour  of  this  tiny  little  bit  of  glorious  day 
that  is  left,  practising  a  stupid  old  '  one,  two  - 
one,  two  —  one,  two !  "  Then,  with  apparent  ir- 
relevance, she  patted  her  blue-and-gold  chatelaine 
watch  remorsefully  —  and  it  may  be  noted  right 
here  that  she  came  back  in  ample  time  for  her  hour 
of  practising  before  supper. 

There  was  a  new  boy  at  school  the  next  morning. 
This  fact  in  itself  did  not  particularly  interest  the 
Happy  Hexagons  until  they  learned  his  name.  It 
was  "  O.  B.  J.  Holmes."  When  the  initials  did  not 
seem  quite  to  satisfy  Miss  Hart,  he  hesitated  visibly, 
then  said,  with  a  very  painful  blush,  that  the  "  O  " 
might  be  put  down  "  Oliver."  It  was  plainly  on 
the  teacher's  tongue  to  ask  about  the  other  letters; 
but,  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  she  passed  over 
the  matter,  and  turned  to  something  else. 

As  usual  the  Happy  Hexagons  found  themselves 
together  at  recess  time,  and  as  was  natural,  perhaps, 
the  subject  of  the  new  boy  came  up  for  discus- 
sion. 

"  I  don't  believe  '  Oliver '  is  ever  his  name,"  de- 
clared Tilly,  stoutly.  "  No  sane  youth  in  his  right 
mind  would  blush  so  beautifully  over  just  '  Oliver.' 
Besides,  he  didn't  say  it  was  Oliver." 

"  I  saw  Miss  Hart  talking  to  him  as  I  came  out 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  265 

just  now,"  announced  Bertha,  "  and  his  face  was 
even  redder  than  ever.    Hers  was  getting  red,  too." 

"  Then  there  is  something,"  cried  Genevieve,  ex- 
citedly, "  and  it's  a  mystery.  I  love  mysteries ! 
'  O.  B.  J.'  —  what  a  really  funny  set  of  letters!  " 

"  Must  be  '  Oliver  Ben  Johnson/  "  laughed 
Bertha. 

"Sounds  to  me  like  'O  Be  Joyful/"  giggled 
Tilly. 

"Sh-h!  —  Tilly!"  warned  Cordelia,  in  a  hor- 
rified whisper.  "  He's  coming.  He'll  hear  you !  " 

But  Tilly  was  not  to  be  silenced.  Tilly,  for  some 
reason,  felt  recklessly  mischievous  that  morning. 

"  Why,  of  course  his  name  is  '  O  Be  Joyful/  ' 
she  cried  in  gay,  shrill  tones  that  carried  the  words 
straight  to  the  ears  of  a  rather  awkward-appearing 
boy  coming  toward  them.     "  How  could  it  be  any- 
thing else?" 

The  boy  blushed  hotly.  For  a  moment  it  seemed 
as  if  he  would  stop  and  speak;  but  the  next  minute 
he  had  turned  away  his  face,  and  was  passing  them 
hurriedly. 

It  was  then  that  the  unexpected  happened.  With 
a  quick  little  impulsive  movement,  Genevieve  stepped 
to  the  new  boy's  side,  and  held  out  a  frankly  cordial 
hand. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Oliver  Holmes,"  she  be- 
gan breathlessly,  but  with  hurried  determination. 
"  I  am  Genevieve  Hartley,  and  I'd  like  to  welcome 


266  SIX   STAR  RANCH 

you  to  our  school.  These  are  my  friends :  Cordelia 
Wilson,  Alma  Lane,  Bertha  Brown,  Elsie  Martin, 
and  Tilly  Mack.  We  hope  you'll  soon  get  ac- 
quainted and  feel  at  home  here,"  she  finished,  her 
face  almost  as  painful  a  red  as  was  the  boy's. 

O.  B.  J.  Holmes  clutched  Genevieve's  hand, 
stammered  a  confused  something  in  response  to  the 
introductions,  and  flung  a  terrifiedly  uncertain  bow 
in  the  direction  of  the  wide-eyed  girls;  then  he 
turned  and  fled  precipitately. 

Behind  him  he  left,  for  one  brief  minute,  a  dazed 
silence  before  Tilly  lifted  her  chin  disagreeably  and 
spoke. 

"  Well,  dear  me !  For  so  marked  a  bid  for  his 
favor,  seems  to  me  our  young  friend  doesn't  show 
proper  appreciation  —  to  run  away  like  that!" 

Genevieve  colored  angrily. 

"  That  was  no  bid  for  his  favor,  and  you  know 
it,  Tilly  Mack!" 

"  No?  "  teased  Tilly,  hatefully.  "  Well,  I'm  sure 
I  should  have  thought  it  was  if  a  perfect  stranger 
flung  herself  in  my  way  like  that." 

"Tilly,  Tilly  — don't!"  begged  Cordelia,  almost 
tearfully. 

It  was  Genevieve's  turn  to  lift  a  disdainful  chin. 
She  eyed  Tilly  scornfully. 

"  Oh,  no,  you  wouldn't  —  not  if  some  other  per- 
fect stranger  had  jast  called  out  a  particularly  hate- 
ful, horrid  joke  about  something  you  were  not  in 


1  '  HOW    DO    YOU    DO,    MR.    OLIVER   HOLMES,  '    SHE 
BEGAN  " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          267 

the  least  to  blame  for !  If  you  hadn't  said  what  you 
did,  I  shouldn't  have  said  what  I  did,  Tilly  Mack. 
As  it  was,  I  —  I  just  couldn't  help  it;  I  was  so 
sorry  for  him !  " 

"  Oh,  it  was  just  being  sorry,  then !  Oh,  excuse 
me;  I  didn't  know,"  cooed  Tilly,  smoothly.  "  You 
see,  it  looked  so  —  different !  " 

:(  Tilly !  "  gasped  Cordelia.  "  Genevieve,  don't 
you  mind  one  bit  what  she  says !  "  But  Genevieve, 
without  a  word,  had  turned  and  was  walking  swiftly 
away. 

"  Well,  Tilly  Mack,"  chorused  several  indignant 
voices ;  and  Elsie  Martin  added  severely :  "  I've 
got  my  opinion  of  you  —  after  all  Genevieve  has 
just  done  for  us !  I'm  sure,  I  think  it  was  lovely  of 
her  to  speak  to  that  boy  like  that!  " 

Tilly  flushed  uncomfortably.  Her  tongue  had 
gone  much  farther  than  she  had  intended  it  to  go. 
She  did  not  like  to  think,  either,  of  that  Texas  trip 
just  then.  But  the  very  shame  that  she  felt  made 
her  only  the  more  determined  not  to  show  it  — 
then. 

"  Pooh !  there  wasn't  a  thing  I  said  that  any- 
body need  to  make  such  a  fuss  about,"  she  declared 
loftily;  then,  as  she  spied  Harold  Day  coming 
toward  them,  she  called  in  a  merry  voice :  "  Seen 
the  new  boy,  Harold?  His  name  is  '  O.  B.  J. 
Holmes/  /  say  his  name  is  '  O  Be  Joyful,'  and  the 
girls  are  shocked  at  my  disrespect." 


268  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Is  that  so?  "  laughed  Harold.  "  Well,  I'm  not 
sure  Fd  like  that  name  myself  very  well  —  even  if 
'tis  a  cheerful  one!  Where's  Genevieve?  One 
doesn't  often  see  one  of  you  without  all  of  you." 

"  Oh,  she  was  here,  but  she's  gone.  She  was  the 
most  shocked  of  all,"  answered  Tilly,  with  mock 
humility.  "  Probably  she's  gone  to  tell  him  so. 
You  see,  she  shook  hands  with  him  and  introduced 
us  all  around,  and  said  she'd  like  to  welcome  him 
and  that  she  hoped  he'd  enjoy  it  here." 

"  Oh,  Tilly!  "  remonstrated  Cordelia. 

"Why,  Cordelia,  didn't  she?"  asked  Tilly,  in  a 
particularly  innocent  tone  of  voice. 

"  Y  -  yes,"  admitted  Cordelia,  reluctantly, 
"  only  — "  The  bell  rang  and  the  group  broke 
up,  with  Cordelia's  sentence  still  unfinished. 

The  rest  of  the  day  for  the  Happy  Hexagons 
was  not  an  easy  one.  Tilly  looked  rebellious  —  and 
ashamed.  Cordelia  looked  ready  to  cry.  Gene- 
vieve kept  her  eyes  on  her  books  and  seemed  un- 
aware that  there  was  such  a  thing  in  the  world 
as  a  girls'  club,  of  which  she  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber. Bertha,  Elsie,  and  Alma  divided  their  time 
between  scowling  at  Tilly  and  trying  to  attract 
Genevieve's  attention. 

It  was  during  the  Latin  recitation,  which  came 
just  before  closing  time  at  noon,  that  Cordelia's 
perturbation  culminated  in  a  blunder  that  sent 
most  of  the  class  into  convulsive  giggles,  and  even 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          269 

brought  a  twitching  smile  to  Genevieve's  tense 
lips. 

Cordelia,  rising  to  translate  in  her  turn,  hurried 
blindly  through  a  paragraph  until  she  came  to  the 
words  "  sub  jugum."  Now  Cordelia  very  well 
knew  what  "  sub  jugum  "  meant;  but  her  eyes,  at 
the  moment,  were  divided  between  her  book  and 
Genevieve's  flushed  cheeks,  and  so  saw,  apparently, 
but  half  of  the  word  "  jugum."  At  all  events,  the 
next  moment  the  class  were  amazed  to  learn  from 
Cordelia's  lips  that  Caesar  sent  the  army  —  not 
"  under  the  yoke  "  as  was  expected  —  but  "  under 
the  jug." 

Cordelia  knew,  before  the  titters  of  the  class  told 
her,  what  she  had  said;  and  with  hot  blushes  she 
made  a  hasty  correction.  But  to  Cordelia,  usually 
so  conscientiously  accurate  and  circumspect,  the 
thing  was  a  tragedy,  and,  as  such,  would  not  soon 
be  forgotten  by  her.  She  knew,  too,  that  the  class 
would  not  let  her  forget  it  even  could  she  herself 
do  so.  If  She  had  doubted  this,  she  did  not  doubt 
it  longer,  after  school  was  dismissed,  for  she  was 
assailed  on  all  sides  by  a  merry  bombardment  of 
gibes  and  questions  as  to  just  what  sort  of  jug  it 
was,  anyhow,  under  which  Caesar  sent  his  army. 

Genevieve,  only,  had  nothing  to  say.  She  did 
not,  indeed,  even  glance  toward  Cordelia.  With 
averted  face  she  hurried  through  the  corridor  and 
out  the  street  door  alone.  In  the  yard  a  quick  step 


270  SIX   STAR  RANCH 

behind  her  overtook  her,  and  she  found  herself 
looking  into  the  flushed,  agitated  face  of  the  new 
boy. 

O.  B.  J.  Holmes  would  not,  at  first  sight,  be  called 
a  good-looking  youth.  His  face  was  freckled,  and 
his  nose  was  rather  large.  But  his  mouth  was  well- 
shaped,  and  his  eyes  were  large  and  expressive. 
They  looked  into  Genevieve's  now  with  a  gaze  that 
was  clear  and  honest  and  manly. 

"  Miss  Genevieve,  may  I  walk  with  you  a  little 
way,  please?"  he  asked  with  disarming  directness. 
"  I  want  to  speak  to  you." 

"  Why,  of  —  of  course,"  stammered  Genevieve. 
Then  she  colored  painfully:  behind  her  she  heard 
Tilly's  laughing  voice,  followed  by  Alma's  lower 
one,  and  Harold's. 

"  I  wanted  to  thank  you  for  what  you  did  this 
morning,"  began  O.  B.  J.  Holmes,  falling  into  step 
with  her. 

"  Oh,  that  wasn't  —  wasn't  anything,"  stammered 
Genevieve,  nervously,  still  acutely  conscious  of  the 
eyes  that  she  knew  were  behind  her. 

The  boy  smiled  a  little  wistfully. 

"  Perhaps  not,  to  you,"  he  answered ;  "  but  if 
you'd  been  named  '  O  Be  Joyful '  and  had  had  to 
suffer  for  it  as  I  have,  you'd  think  it  was  some- 
thing." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  your  name  is  '  O  Be 
Joyful ' !  "  gasped  Genevieve. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          271 

He  nodded,  his  face  showing  a  deeper  red. 

"  Yes,  that's  what  I  wanted  to  tell  you.  I  didn't 
feel  square  not  to  have  you  know  it,  after  you  stood 
up  so  bravely  for  '  Oliver.'  Of  course,  if  you  like, 
you  may  tell  the  rest.  I  suppose  I  was  foolish  to 
try  to  keep  it  to  myself,  anyway,"  he  sighed  moodily. 

"Tell  it!  Of  course  I  sha'n't  tell  it,"  declared 
Genevieve,  warmly.  She  had  forgotten  all  about 
those  watching  eyes  behind  her,  now. 

"  Thank  you,"  smiled  the  boy  again,  a  little  wist- 
fully. "  Miss  Hart  knows  it,  of  course.  I  told  her 
at  recess ;  and  the  principal,  Mr.  Jackson,  knows  it. 
He  agreed  to  letting  me  be  called  '  Oliver/  and  so 
does  Miss  Hart.  Still,  I  don't  suppose  I  can  keep 
it,  and  it  will  get  out.  I  —  I  supposed  it  had  got 
out  when  I  heard  your  friend  this  morning." 

"  Well,  it  isn't  out,  and  nobody  knows  it  —  but 
me,"  declared  Genevieve,  with  more  warmth  than 
grammar.  "  That  was  only  some  of  Tilly  Mack's 
nonsense;  and  when  you  know  her  better,  you'll 
know  that  nobody  pays  any  attention  to  what  Tilly 
says."  Genevieve  stopped  abruptly,  and  bit  her  lip. 
She  was  thinking  that  not  so  very  long  before,  she 
herself  had  paid  attention  to  something  Tilly  Mack 
said.  ; 

'  I  don't  think  mother  ever  realized  just  what 
such  a  name  would  be  for  a  fellow  to  carry  through 
life,"  said  the  boy,  after  a  moment's  silence. 
"  There  were  five  of  us  children,  and  she  gave  us 


272  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

all  queer  names  —  names  that  expressed  something 
that  had  just  been  happening  in  the  family,  you  un- 
derstand. For  instance,  my  oldest  brother  was  born 
in  a  year  when  the  crops  failed,  and  they  called  him 
*  Tribulation.'  Crops  were  good,  you  see,  when  I 
came,"  he  added,  with  a  rueful  smile. 

"  Why,  how  —  how  funny  and  —  and  terrible," 
breathed  Genevieve. 

"  Yes,  it  was  terrible  —  but  mother  never  thought 
of  it  that  way,  I'm  sure.  I'm  glad  she  can't  know 

—  now  —  just  how  hard  it's  been  for  me.     When 
I  came  here,  I  knew  I  was  a  perfect  stranger  and 
I  determined  folks  shouldn't  know.     I'd  be  '  Oliver 
B.  J.  Holmes.'  " 

"And  you  shall  be  '  Oliver  B.  J.  Holmes,'" 
averred  Genevieve,  lifting  her  chin.  "  Oh,  of  course 
Tilly  will  call  you  the  other,  and  maybe  some  of  the 
rest  will,  sometimes ;  but  don't  let  that  fret  you  for 
a  moment.  Just  remember  that  no  one  knows  — 
for  I  sha'n't  tell  it.  And  now  good-by.  This  is  my 
street,"  she  finished,  with  a  cheery  nod. 

It  was  not  easy  for  Genevieve  to  go  back  to  the 
short  session  of  school  that  afternoon ;  but  she  went 

—  and  she  tried  to  appear  as  if  everything  was  as 
usual  when  she  met  Cordelia  and  Elsie  at  the  corner. 
Cordelia  and  Elsie  were  only  too  glad  to  follow  her 
lead.    Not  until  they  met  Tilly  in  the  school  yard  — 
and  saw  her  turn  hastily  away  without  speaking  — 
did  they  show  how  really  constrained  they  felt. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  273 

Genevieve,  apparently,  saw  and  felt  nothing  of 
this  —  but  she  never  looked  toward  Tilly  that  after- 
noon; and  when  school  was  dismissed  she  hurried 
cheerfully  away  with  only  a  smiling  nod  toward 
Cordelia  and  Alma,  whom  she  passed  in  the  cor- 
ridor. 

At  home  Genevieve  went  immediately  to  her 
practising  —  somewhat  to  Mrs.  Kennedy's  surprise. 
She  practised,  too,  quite  fifteen  minutes  over  her 
hour  —  still  more  to  Mrs.  Kennedy's  surprise. 
There  was,  also,  a  certain  unsympathetic  hardness 
in  the  chords  and  runs  that  puzzled  the  lady  not  a 
little;  but  in  the  face  of  their  obvious  accuracy, 
and  of  Genevieve's  apparent  faithfulness,  Mrs. 
Kennedy  did  not  like  to  find  fault. 

Just  how  long  Genevieve  would  have  practised  is 
doubtful,  perhaps,  had  there  not  sounded  an  in- 
sistently repeated  whistle  of  the  Hexagon  Club  song 
from  the  garden.  The  girl  went  to  the  open  win- 
dow then. 

"Did  you  whistle,  Harold?"  she  asked,  not  too 
graciously. 

"  Did  I  whistle?  "  retorted  the  boy,  testily.  "  Oh, 
no,  I  never  whistled  once  —  but  I  did  four  times! 
See  here,  I  thought  your  practice-hour  was  an 
hour." 

"  It  is." 

"  Well,  you've  been  working  fifteen  minutes  over- 
time already." 


274  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"Have  I?" 

u  Yes,  you  have ;  and  your  constitution  positively 
needs  a  walk.  Come,  it's  your  plain  duty  to  your 
health.  Will  you  go?  " 

Genevieve  dimpled  into  a  laugh. 

"  All  right,"  she  cried  more  naturally.  "  Then 
I'll  come.  I'll  be  out  in  a  jiffy." 

"  Let's  go  up  through  the  pasture  to  the  woods/' 
proposed  Harold,  when  Genevieve  appeared,  swing- 
ing her  hat. 

"  All  right,"  nodded  Genevieve,  somewhat  list- 
lessly. "  Anywhere." 

In  the  woods,  some  time  later,  Genevieve  and 
Harold  dropped  themselves  down  to  rest.  It  was 
then  that  Harold  cleared  his  throat  a  little  nerv- 
ously. 

:<  You  have  a  new  boy  in  school,  I  hear,"  he 
said. 

Genevieve  turned  quickly.  For  a  moment  she 
looked  almost  angry.  Then,  unexpectedly,  she 
laughed. 

"  You've  been  talking  with  Tilly,  I  perceive," 
she  remarked. 

"  Oh,  no;  Tilly  has  only  been  talking  with  me," 
retorted  Harold,  laughing  in  his  turn  —  though  a 
little  constrainedly. 

Genevieve  grew  suddenly  sober. 

"I  don't  care;  I'm  glad  I  did  it,"  she  declared. 
[<  You  know  what  Tilly  can  be  when  she  wants  to 


SIX  STAB   RANCH  275 

be  —  and  she  evidently  wanted  to  be,  this  morning. 
Just  because  a  boy  is  new  and  has  got  freckles  and 
a  queer  name,  is  no  reason  why  he  should  be  made 
fun  of  like  that." 

"  Of  course  not !  "  Then,  still  a  little  constrain- 
edly, Harold  asked :  "  How  do  you  like  him  ?  I 
saw  you  talking  with  him  afterward." 

Genevieve  frowned  thoughtfully. 

"  Why,  I  don't  know  —  I  hadn't  thought,"  she 
answered.  "  But  I  reckon  perhaps  I  like  him.  He 
talked  quite  a  little,  and  he  seemed  rather  nice,  I 
think  —  just  frank  and  folksy,  you  know.  Yes,  I 
think  I  like  him.  I  think  we'll  all  like  him." 

"  Qh,  of  course,"  agreed  Harold  without  enthu- 
siasm, getting  suddenly  to  his  feet.  "  Well,  I  sup- 
pose we  must  be  going." 

"  Yes,  of  course,"  sighed  Genevieve,  glancing 
down  at  her  little  blue-enamel  watch ;  "  but  it  is 
nice  here !  " 

The  homeward  walk  was  somewhat  of  a  silent 
one.  Harold  was  unusually  quiet,  and  Genevieve 
was  wondering  just  how  and  when  peace  and  happi- 
ness were  to  reign  once  more  in  the  Hexagon  Club. 
She  was  wondering,  too,  if  ever  she  could  be  just 
the  same  to  Tilly  —  unless  Tilly  had  first  something 
to  say  to  her. 

As  it  happened,  Genevieve's  questions  were  an- 
swered, in  a  way,  before  she  slept;  for,  after  she 
had  gone  up  to  bed  that  night,  there  came  a  ring  at 


276  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

the  doorbell,  followed,  a  moment  later,  by  a  tap  at 
her  door. 

"  It  do  be  a  note  for  you,  Miss  Genevieve,"  ex- 
plained Nancy. 

"A  note  —  forme?" 

"Yes,  Miss;  from  Miss  Tilly,  I  think.  She's 
down  at  the  door  with  her  brother." 

Genevieve  did  not  answer.  Her  eyes  were  de- 
vouring the  note. 

"  DEAR  GENEVIEVE  :  —  "  Tilly  had  written.  "  I'm 
so  ashamed  I  just  can't  live  till  you  tell  me  you  for- 
give me.  I  have  begged  Howard  to  take  me  down 
there.  I  know  I  never,  never  can  sleep  till  I've 
asked  your  pardon  for  being  so  perfectly  horrid 
this  morning.  Will  you  ever,  ever  forgive  and  love 
me  again? 

"  Your  miserable,  remorseful 

"  TILLY. 

"  P.  S.  I  think  what  you  did  was  just  the  bra- 
vest, loveliest  thing  I  ever  saw  a  girl  do. 

"T.  M. 

"  P.  S.  again.  I'm  so  late  I'm  afraid  you've 
gone  to  bed:  but  if  you  haven't,  and  if  you  do  for- 
give me,  come  to  your  window  and  wave  to  me.  I 
shall  watch  with  what  Quentina  would  call  soulful, 
hungry  eyes. 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  277 

"  That's  all  right;  thank  you,  Nancy.  There 
isn't  any  answer,"  smiled  Genevieve  as  she  closed 
the  door.  The  next  moment  she  darted  across  the 
room,  plucked  a  great  pink  aster  from  the  vase  on 
the  table,  hurried  to  the  window  and  threw  up  the 
screen. 

Below  she  saw  the  automobile  and  the  two  figures 
therein.  Faintly  visible,  too,  was  the  upturned  face 
of  the  girl,  containing,  presumably,  the  "  hungry, 
soulful  eyes." 

The  next  moment,  plump  into  Tilly's  lap,  fell  a 
huge  pink  aster. 


278  SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER   XXI 

GENEVIEVE   LEARNS    SOMETHING    NOT   IN    BOOKS 

SCHOOL,  in  an  amazingly  short  time,  fell  into  its 
customary  routine.  Genevieve,  it  is  true,  did  not 
cease  to  pine  for  long,  free  hours  out  of  doors ;  but 
with  as  good  grace  as  she  could  muster  she  sub- 
mitted to  the  inevitable. 

Miss  Hart  was  still  not  a  favorite  in  the  school, 
and  no  one  seemed  to  realize  this  more  keenly  than 
did  Miss  Hart  herself.  At  all  events,  as  the  days 
passed,  she  grew  thinner  and  paler  looking,  and 
more  nervous  and  worried  in  her  manner.  While 
none  of  the  Happy  Hexagons  deliberately  set  her- 
self to  making  trouble,  certainly  none  of  them  tried 
to  cause  matters  to  be  any  easier  for  her.  The 
girls  themselves  had  long  since  forgotten  their  brief 
day  of  unpleasantness  regarding  O.  B.  J.  Holmes, 
and  were  more  devoted  than  ever,  after  this,  their 
first  quarrel. 

In  the  Kennedy  home,  too,  matters  had  settled 
into  their  usual  routine.  Miss  Jane  had  returned, 
and  the  days,  for  Genevieve,  were  full  of  study, 
practice,  and  the  usual  number  of  lessons  in  cooking 
and  sewing. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          279 

As  the  crisp  October  days  came,  every  pleasant 
Saturday  afternoon  found  the  Hexagon  Club  off 
for  a  long  walk  or  ride,  sometimes  by  themselves, 
sometimes  with  Harold,  Charlie,  O.  B.  J.  Holmes, 
or  some  of  the  other  boys  and  girls  as  invited  guests. 

O.  B.  J.  Holmes  had  long  since  ceased  to  be  the 
"  new  boy."  He  was  not,  indeed,  exactly  a  favorite 
with  some  of  the  young  people,  but  he  was  included 
frequently  in  their  merrymakings  —  chiefly  because 
Genevieve  declared  openly  that  she  thought  he 
ought  to  be.  He  was  not  called  "  Oliver  "  except 
in  the  classroom.  Outside  he  was  known  usually 
as  "  O.  B.  J."  slurred  into  "  Obejay."  Sometimes, 
it  is  true,  Tilly's  old  "  O  Be  Joyful  "  was  heard, 
but  not  often  —  perhaps  because  the  lad  appeared 
not  to  care  if  they  did  call  him  that,  specially  if 
Genevieve  were  near  to  join  in  the  good-natured 
laugh  with  which  he  greeted  it. 

Undeniably,  this  frank  friendliness  of  the  most 
popular  girl  in  school  had  much  to  do  with  the  way 
the  others  regarded  him;  though  they  were  at  a 
loss,  sometimes,  to  account  for  a  certain  quality  in 
that  friendship,  which  they  could  not  fathom. 

"  It's  for  all  the  world  as  if  you'd  known  each 
other  before,"  Harold  explained  it  a  little  ag- 
grievedly  one  day  to  Genevieve,  when  O.  B.  J. 
Holmes  had  just  thrown  her  one  of  his  merry 
glances  at  a  sudden  revival  of  Tilly's  "  O  Be  Joy- 
ful "  name.  "  Say,  have  you  known  him  before  ?  " 


280  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Genevieve  laughed  —  but  she  shook  her  head. 

"  No;  but  maybe  I  do  know  him  now  —  a  little 
better  than  you  do,"  she  answered  demurely,  think- 
ing of  the  name  that  Harold  did  not  even  suspect. 

School  this  year,  for  Genevieve,  was  meaning 
two  new  experiences.  One  was  that  for  the  first 
time  class  officers  were  elected;  the  other,  that  a 
school  magazine  was  started.  In  both  of  these  she 
bore  a  prominent  part.  In  the  one  she  was  unan- 
imously elected  president;  in  the  other  she  was 
appointed  correspondent  for  her  class  by  the  Editor- 
in-Chief.  By  each,  however,  she  was  quite  over- 
whelmed. 

"But  I  don't  think  I  can  do  them  —  not  either 
of  them,"  she  declared  to  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  Miss 
Jane  Chick  when  she  had  brought  home  the  news. 
"  To  be  Class  President  you  have  to  be  awfully 
dignified  and  conduct  meetings  and  know  parlia- 
mentary law,  and  all  that." 

"  I'm  not  afraid  of  anything  there  hurting  you," 
smiled  Miss  Jane.  "  In  fact,  it  strikes  me  that  it 
will  do  you  a  great  deal  of  good." 

"  Y-yes,  I  suppose  you  would  think  so,"  smiled 
Genevieve,  a  little  dubiously. 

"  And  I'm  sure  it's  an  honor,"  Mrs.  Kennedy  re- 
minded her. 

Genevieve  flushed. 

"I  am  glad  they  wanted  me,"  she  admitted 
frankly. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          281 

"  And  what  is  this  magazine  affair?  "  asked  Miss 
Jane. 

'  Yes,  and  that's  another  thing,"  sighed  Gene- 
vieve.  "  I  can't  write  things.  If  it  were  only  Quen- 
tina,  now  —  she  could  do  it !  " 

"  But  you  have  written  for  the  Chronicles,  my 
dear,"  observed  Mrs.  Kennedy.  "  Have  you  given 
those  up?" 

"  Oh,  no ;  we  still  keep  them,  only  we  have  entries 
once  a  week  now  instead  of  every  day.  There  isn't 
so  much  doing  here  as  there  was  in  Texas,  you 
know." 

"  Then  you  do  write  for  that,"  said  Miss  Jane. 

"  Oh,  but  thafs  just  for  us,"  argued  Genevieve. 
"  I  don't  mind  that.  But  this  has  got  to  be  printed, 
Miss  Jane  —  printed  right  out  for  everybody  to 
read !  If  it  were  only  Quentina,  now  —  she'd  glory 
in  it.  And  —  oh,  Miss  Jane,  how  I  wish  you  could 
see  Quentina,"  broke  off  Genevieve,  suddenly. 
"  Dear  me !  wouldn't  she  just  hit  on  your  name, 
though !  She'd  be  rhyming  it  in  no  time,  and  have 
'  Miss  Jane  at  the  window-pane,'  before  you  could 
turn  around !  " 

"  Quite  an  inducement  for  me  to  know  her,  I'm 
sure,"  observed  Miss  Jane,  dryly. 

Genevieve  laughed,  but  she  sighed  again,  too. 

"  Well,  anyhow,  she  would  do  it  lovely  —  this 
correspondence  business;  but  I  can't,  I'm  sure." 

"  What  are  you  supposed  to  do  ?  " 


282  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Why,  just  hand  in  things  —  anything  that's  of 
interest  in  my  class;  but  I  don't  know  what  to 
say." 

"  Perhaps  the  others  can  help  you,"  suggested 
Aunt  Julia. 

Genevieve  gave  a  sudden  laugh. 

"  They'd  like  to  —  some  of  them.  Tilly's  tried 
already.  She  gave  me  two  items  this  noon,  all 
written  down.  One  was  that  O.  B.  J.  had  a  new 
freckle  on  the  left  side  of  his  nose,  and  the  other 
that  Bertha  hadn't  said  '  I  told  you  so  '  to-day." 

"  Genevieve !  "  protested  the  shocked  Miss  Jane. 
"  You  wouldn't  —  "  She  stopped  helplessly. 

"  Oh,  no,  Miss  Jane,  I  wouldn't,"  laughed  Gene- 
vieve, merrily,  as  she  rose  from  the  dinner-table. 

Perhaps  it  was  her  duties  as  president,  and  her 
new  task  as  correspondent,  or  perhaps  it  was  just 
the  allurement  of  the  beautiful  out-of-doors  that 
made  it  so  hard  for  Genevieve  to  spend  time  on  her 
lessons  that  autumn.  Perhaps,  too,  her  lack  of 
enthusiasm  for  Miss  Hart  had  something  to  do 
with  it.  Whatever  it  was,  to  concentrate  her  atten- 
tion on  Latin  verbs  and  French  nouns  grew  harder 
and  harder  as  the  days  passed,  until  at  last  —  in 
the  frenzied  rush  of  a  study-hour  one  day  —  she 
did  what  she  had  never  done  before:  wrote  the 
meaning  of  some  of  the  words  under  the  Latin 
version  in  her  book. 

It  was,  apparently,  a  great  success.    Her  work  in 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  283 

class  was  so  unusually  good  that  Miss  Hart's  tired 
eyes  brightened,  and  'her  lips  spoke  a  word  of  high 
praise  —  praise  that  sent  to  Genevieve's  cheek  a 
flush  that  Genevieve  herself  tried  to  think  was  all/ 
gratification.  But  —  the  next  day  she  did  not  write 
any  words  in  the  book.  The  out-of-doors,  however, 
was  just  as  alluring,  and  the  outside  duties  were 
just  as  pressing;  so  there  was  just  as  little  time  as 
ever  for  the  Latin  verbs.  They  suffered,  too,  in 
consequence.  So,  also,  did  Genevieve;  for  this 
time,  Miss  Hart,  stung  into  irritation  by  this  appar- 
ently unnecessary  falling  back  into  carelessness, 
said  a  few  particularly  sharp  words  that  sent  Gene- 
vieve out  of  the  class  with  very  red  cheeks  and  very 
angry  eyes. 

"  I  just  hate  Miss  Hart  and  school,  and  —  and 
everything,"  stormed  Genevieve  hotly,  five  minutes 
later,  as  she  met  Cordelia  and  Tilly  in  the  corridor 
after  school  was  dismissed. 

"  Oh,  Genevieve,"  remonstrated  Cordelia,  faintly. 

"  Well,  I  do.  I  didn't  have  time  to  get  that  les- 
son —  but  a  lot  Miss  Hart  cared  for  that !  " 

"  Why  don't  you  use  a  pony  ?  "  twittered  Tilly, 
cheerfully. 

"A  —  pony  ?  "     Genevieve's  eyes  were  puzzled. 

Tilly  laughed. 

"  Oh,  it  isn't  one  of  your  bronchos,"  she  giggled, 
"and  it's  easier  to  ride  than  they  are!  It's  just  a 
nice  little  book  that  you  buy  —  a  Latin  translation, 


284  SIX   STAR   RANCH 

you  know,  all  done  by  somebody  else  —  and  no 
bother  to  you." 

"  But  —  is  that  quite  —  fair  ?  "  frowned  Gene- 
vieve. 

"  Hm-m ;  well,  I  presume  Miss  Hartless  wouldn't 
call  it  —  good  form,"  she  shrugged. 

"  Why,  Tilly  Mack !  of  course  it  isn't  fair,  and 
you  know  it,"  cried  Cordelia.  "  It's  worse  than 
cribbing." 

(l  What's  cribbing?"  demanded  Genevieve. 

"  It's  the  only  way  out  when  you  haven't  got 
your  lesson,"  answered  Tilly,  promptly. 

"  It's  writing  the  translation  under  the  words  in 
the  book,"  explained  Elsie  Martin,  who,  coming 
tip  at  the  moment,  had  heard  Genevieve's  ques- 
tion. 

"  It's  just  plain  cheating  —  and  it's  horrid,"  de- 
clared Cordelia,  with  emphasis. 

Genevieve's  face  turned  a  sudden,  painful  red, 
for  some  unapparent  reason. 

"  Y-yes,  it  must  be,"  she  murmured  faintly,  as 
she  turned  to  go. 

On  the  walk  home  that  noon,  Harold,  as  was  fre- 
quently the  case,  overtook  her. 

"  Well,  what  part  of  the  world  would  you  like 
changed  to-day?  "  he  asked,  with  a  smiling  glance 
at  her  frowning  face. 

"  Chiefly,  I  reckon  I'd  like  no  school,"  sighed 
Genevieve;  "but  if  I  can't  have  that,  I'd  like  an- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          285 

other  box  of  teachers  opened  so  we  could  have  a 


new  one." 


"  What's  the  trouble  now?  " 

"  Oh,  I  reckon  the  trouble  is  with  me,"  admitted 
Genevieve,  ruefully.  "  Anyhow,  Miss  Jane  would 
say  it  was.  I  flunked  in  Caesar  —  but  that's  no  rea- 
son why  Miss  Hart  should  have  been  so  disagree- 
able !  But  then,  I  suppose  she  has  to  be.  She  came 
out  of  that  kind  of  a  box,  you  know." 

Harold  laughed,  though  a  little  gravely. 

"  You  still  think  they  come  all  boxed,  sorted,  and 
labeled,  do  you?  "  he  said.  "  And  that  they  aren't 
4  just  folks 'at  all?" 

"  Yes,  I  still  think  so.  They  never  seem  a  bit 
like  *  folks  '  to  me.  It's  their  business  to  sit  up 
there  stiff  and  solemn  and  stern,  and  see  that  you 
behave  and  learn  your  lessons.  I  never  saw  one 
that  I  liked,  except  Miss  Palmer  and  Miss  Jones 

—  but  then,  they  came  out  of  a  jolly  box,  any- 
how." 

"  Lucky  ladies!" 

Genevieve  laughed  rebelliously. 

"Oh,  I  know  I'm  horrid,"  she  admitted;  "but 

—  well,  I  went  off  for  a  ride  with  Tilly  yesterday 
after  school,  instead  of  paying  attention  to  his  Im- 
perial Highness,  Caesar;    and  that's  what  was  the 
trouble.     But,  Harold,  it  was  so  perfectly  glorious 
out  I  had  to  —  I  just  had  to!    I  tell  you,  every  bit 
of  me  was  tingling  to  go !     Now  what  do  you  sup- 


286  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

pose  Miss  Hart  knows  of  a  feeling  like  that?  She 
simply  couldn't  understand  it." 

"  But  —  Miss  Hart  doesn't  look  very  old  —  to 
me." 

Genevieve  stopped  short,  and  turned  half 
around. 

"  Old!    Why,  she's  a  teacher,  Harold!  " 

Harold  chuckled,  as  they  started  forward  again. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  some  teachers'  faces  if  they 
could  hear  you  say  '  teacher '  in  that  tone  of  voice, 
young  lady !  " 

"  Pooh !  I  reckon  it  would  take  considerable  to 
make  me  think  of  any  teacher  as  young/'  retorted 
Genevieve,  with  emphasis. 

"  All  right ;  but  —  aren't  you  coming  out,  later, 
for  a  walk  or  —  or  something  ?  "  asked  Harold,  a 
little  anxiously,  as  they  reached  the  Kennedy  drive- 
way. 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  No,  little  boy,"  she  answered,  with  mock  cheer- 
fulness. "  I'm  going  to  practise,  then  I'm  going  to 
study  my  algebra,  then  I'm  going  to  study  my  Latin, 
then  I'm  going  to  study  my  French,  then  I'm  going 
to  study  my  English  history,  then  —  " 

<f  Go od-by !"  laughed  Harold,  clapping  his  hands 
to  his  ears,  and  hurrying  away. 

Unhesitating  as  was  Genevieve's  assertion  of  her 
intentions,  those  intentions  were,  not  carried  out, 
even  to  the  practising,  first  on  the  list ;  for,  in  put- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  287 

ting  down  her  books,  Genevieve  dropped  some  loose 
papers  to  the  floor.  The  papers  were  some  that  had 
that  day  been  returned  by  Miss  Hart;  and,  as  the 
girl  gathered  them  up  now,  a  sheet  of  note  paper, 
covered  with  handwriting  entirely  different  from 
her  own,  attracted  her  attention. 

She  recognized  the  writing  at  once  as  that  of 
Miss  Hart,  and  she  supposed  at  first  that  the  paper 
must  contain  some  special  suggestions  or  criticisms 
in  regard  to  her  own  work.  With  a  quick  frown, 
therefore,  she  began  to  read  it. 

She  had  not  read  five  lines  before  she  knew  that 
the  paper  did  not  contain  criticism  or  suggestions. 
But  so  dazed,  so  surprised,  and  so  absorbed  was  she, 
by  that  time,  that  she  quite  forgot  that  she  was 
reading  something  most  certainly  never  meant  for 
her  eyes  to  see. 

The  paper  was  evidently  the  second  sheet  of  a 
letter.  The  writing  —  fine,  but  plain  —  began  close 
to  the  top  of  the  first  page,  in  what  was  apparently 
the  middle  of  a  sentence. 

"  speak  freely,  I  am  sure. 

"  Things  are  not  getting  any  better,  but  rather 
worse.  I  cannot  seem  to  win  them.  Of  course  I 
understood  that  my  task  would  be  difficult,  follow- 
ing, as  I  did,  two  such  popular  teachers.  I  think, 
perhaps,  that  this  very  fact  has  made  me  nervous; 
and  so  —  I  have  not  appeared  even  at  my  best. 


288  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

But,  oh,  I  have  tried !  —  you  cannot  knov-/  how  I 
have  tried! 

"  I  am  nearly  sick  with  terror  for  fear  I  shall  lose 
my  position  —  and  of  course  that  doesn't  help  me 
to  be  the  cool,  calm,  judicious  person  in  the  chair 
I  ought  to  be.  But  it  means  so  much  to  me  —  this 
place  —  and  if  I  should  lose  it,  there  would  be  poor 
Annie  deprived  of  her  comforts  again;  for,  of 
course,  a  failure  here  would  mean  that  not  for  a 
long  time  (if  ever!)  could  I  get  another  like  it. 

"  Forgive  me  for  burdening  you  with  all  this, 
but  it  had  got  to  the  point  where  I  must  speak  to 
some  one.  Then,  too,  I  did  not  know  but  you  could 
perhaps  tell  me  why  I  have  failed  —  I  have  tried  so 
hard  myself  to  understand ! 

"  Sometimes  I  think  I'm  too  lenient.  Sometimes 
I  think  I'm  too  strict.  Sometimes  I'm  so  worried 
for  fear  they'll  think  me  too  young  and  inexperi- 
enced, that  I  don't  dare  to  act  myself  at  all  —  then 
I'm  stiffly  dignified  in  a  way  that  I  know  must  be 
horrid. 

"  After  all,  I  think  the  whole  secret  of  the  matter 
is  —  that  I'm  afraid.  If  once  I  could  have  a  con- 
fident  assurance  that  I  am  doing  well,  and  that  I 
am  winning  out  —  I  think  I  should  win  out.  I  do, 
truly ! 

"  And  now  I  must  stop  and  go  to  work.  I'm  in 
the  grove,  back  of  the  schoolhouse.  I  often  bring 
my  papers  here  to  correct.  I  have  them  with  me 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          289 

to-night;  but — I've  been  writing  to  you  instead 
of  working.  I'll  finish  this  later.  But,  really,  al- 
ready I  feel  a  little  better.  It's  done  me  good,  just 
to  say  things  to  you.  Of  course,  to  no  one  else 
could  I  —  " 

There  was  a  little  more,  but  Genevieve  stopped 
here.  Not  until  she  read  that  last  sentence  did  she 
realize  in  the  least  what  she  was  doing.  Then,  hur- 
riedly, with  flushed  cheeks  and  shamed  eyes,  she 
thrust  the  letter  out  of  sight  under  the  papers.  But 
there  was  something  besides  shame  in  her  eyes; 
there  was  a  very  real,  and  a  very  tender  sympathy 
for  —  folks. 

"  And  to  think  that  I  —  read  it,"  she  breathed. 
Then,  suddenly,  she  snatched  up  the  papers  again. 
"  But  she  mustn't  know  —  she  mustn't  know," 
choked  the  girl.  "  Maybe,  if  I  run,  I  can  get  there 
in  time  and  tuck  it  into  her  desk.  I  must  get  there 
in  time,"  she  declared  aloud,  darting  out  of  the 
house  and  up  the  street  without  once  looking  back 
toward  an  amazed  Miss  Jane,  watching  her  from 
the  window. 

As  Genevieve  hoped  would  be  the  case,  the  janitor 
had  not  finished  his  nightly  duties.  The  great  front 
door  stood  wide  open,  and  Genevieve  made  short 
work  of  reaching  her  own  room.  As  she  opened 
that  door,  however,  she  paused  in  dismay. 

Miss  Hart  was  in  her  chair.    Her  arms  lay  folded 


290  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

on  the  desk  before  her,  and  her  face  was  hidden  in 
them. 

The  knob  under  Genevieve's  nerveless  fingers 
clicked  sharply,  and  Miss  Hart  raised  her  head  with 
a  start. 

During  the  one  brief  moment  that  Genevieve 
gazed  into  her  teacher's  startled  eyes,  wild  plans 
raced  through  her  mind :  she  would  run ;  she  would 
go  to  her  own  desk  and  leave  the  papers,  then  des- 
troy the  fateful  letter  to-morrow;  she  would  walk 
up  and  hand  the  letter  to  Miss  Hart  now,  and  con- 
fess that  she  had  read  it ;  she  would  — 

"Why,  Genevieve!''  cried  Miss  Hart,  a  little 
huskily.  "  Did  you  —  forget  something  ?  " 

"  No,  Miss  Hart;  yes  —  well,  I  mean  —  it  isn't 
that  I  forgot  exactly.  I  —  I  didn't  know,"  she  fal- 
tered, realizing  more  than  ever  the  meaning  of  the 
letter  she  had  just  read,  now  that  the  wistful-eyed 
writer  of  it  sat  before  her,  bearing  plain  evidence  of 
tears. 

"  Can  I  do  anything  for  you  ?  "  Miss  Hart  asked. 

Genevieve  went,  then,  straight  to  the  desk.  The 
papers  —  with  the  letter  —  were  rolled  tightly  in 
one  hand. 

"No,  Miss  Hart,  thank  you;  but  —  isn't  there 
something  that  —  that  I  can  do  for  —  you  ?  "  she 
faltered. 

What  happened  next  was,  to  Genevieve,  cer- 
tainly, most  disconcerting.  Miss  Hart  gave  one 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  291 

look  into  Genevieve's  eyes,  then  dropped  her  face 
into  her  hands  and  burst  into  tears.  At  Genevieve's 
aghast  exclamation,  however,  she  raised  her  head 
determinedly  and  began  to  wipe  her  eyes. 

'  There,  there,  my  dear,"  she  smiled  brightly, 
winking  off  the  tears.  "  That  was  very  foolish  and 
very  silly  of  me,  and  you  must  forget  all  about  it. 
I  was  a  little  homesick,  I'm  afraid,  and  perhaps  a 
bit  blue ;  and  your  eyes  looked  into  mine  so  frankly 
and  honestly,  and  with  such  a  courageous  '  I'll-try- 
to-help-you  '  look,  that  —  that  —  well,  you  know 
what  I  did.  But  come  —  let  us  talk  no  more  of  this, 
my  dear  I  Let  us  get  out  of  this  stifling  room,  and 
into  the  blessed  out-of-doors.  We'll  go  into  the 
grove  for  a  little  walk.  These  four  walls  have  been 
just  smothering  me  all  day !  " 

Genevieve  opened  wide  her  eyes. 

:t  Why,  do  you  feel  that  way  —  too  ?  "  she  asked 
incredulously. 

Miss  Hart  colored  a  little. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  do,  my  dear  —  though  probably  I 
ought  not  to  have  said  just  that  —  to  you,"  she 
sighed  constrainedly.  "  But  —  to  tell  the  truth, 
I've  never  been  able  quite  to  see  what  houses  were 
made  for,  I  suspect,  since  I  used  to  ask  that  ques- 
tion as  a  little  girl.  I  imagine  'twas  in  summer, 
however,  not  winter,  when  I  asked  it,"  she  finished 
a  little  tremulously,  as  they  passed  through  the  hall 
to  the  outer  door. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


Once  again  Genevieve  opened  wide  her  eyes. 

"  Did  you  ask  that  —  really  ?  Why,  Father  says 
that  was  one  of  my  questions,  too,"  she  breathed 
rapturously.  "  Why,  you  are  —  you  are  just 
like  —  "  with  a  little  cough  Genevieve  choked  off 
the  "  folks  "  before  it  was  spoken.  The  word  was 
"  me  "  when  it  finally  left  her  lips. 

It  was  a  wonderful  half-hour  that  Genevieve 
spent  then  in  the  grove.  Over  in  the  west  the  sun 
was  low,  and  the  shadows  were  long  under  the 
trees.  The  air  was  crisp,  but  not  too  crisp,  if  one 
were  walking  —  and  she  and  Miss  Hart  were  walk- 
ing. They  were  talking,  too. 

They  talked  of  birds  and  beasts  and  flowers. 
They  talked  of  school  and  study,  and  Latin  lessons 
that  were  so  hard  to  learn  when  the  out-of-doors 
called.  They  talked  of  the  days  and  lessons  to 
come;  and  they  spoke  —  at  least,  Miss  Hart  did  — 
of  what  fine  work  Genevieve  was  sure  to  do  before 
the  year  was  through.  They  did  not  talk,  however, 
of  Miss  Hart's  tears  in  the  classroom,  nor  of  Miss 
Hart's  letter  still  tightly  clutched  in  Genevieve's 
hand. 

Genevieve,  however,  had  not  forgotten  the  letter  ; 
and  when  she  walked  alone  toward  home,  a  little 
later,  she  wondered  what  she  should  do  with  it.  To 
give  it  openly  back  to  Miss  Hart,  she  felt  was  not 
to  be  thought  of;  at  the  same  time  she  doubted  if 
in  any  other  way  she  could  return  it  to  her  now. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH      9  293 

The  letter  certainly  had  already  accomplished  two 
things:  never  again  would  she  so  misjudge  Miss 
Hart;  never  again,  too,  would  she  let  the  others 
so  misjudge  her,  if  she  could  help  it  —  and  she 
believed  she  could  help  it.  She  should  try,  cer- 
tainly. As  for  the  letter  — 

"Well,  Miss/'  broke  in  Harold's  slightly  ag- 
grieved voice  behind  her,  "  is  this  the  way  you 
practise,  and  study  your  Latin  and  your  French  and 
your  algebra  and  your  English  history?" 

Genevieve  was  too  absorbed  even  to  notice  the 
taunt,  much  less  to  reply  to  it. 

"Harold,"  she  sighed,  "I  wish  you'd  tell  me 
something." 

"Certainly!  You  have  only  to  command  me," 
bowed  the  lad,  with  mock  pomposity,  as  he  fell  into 
step  with  her. 

Genevieve  was  frowning.  She  did  not  even 
smile. 

"  Harold,  if  you  had  something  that  belonged  to 
somebody  else,  and  they  didn't  know  you  had  it 
and  would  feel  dreadfully  if  they  found  out  you 
had  it,  do  you  think  you  ought  to  give  it  back  to 
them,  and  so  let  them  know  you  had  it,  when  all 
the  time  if  they  didn't  know  you  had  it,  they 
wouldn't  care  at  all  ?  " 

"  W-w-well !  "  whistled  Harold.  "  Do  you  mind 
—  er  —  giving  me  that  again,  now  —  say,  in  pieces 
a  foot  long  this  time?  If  I  were  Cordelia  I  might 


294  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

give  you  my  answer  right  off  the  handle,  but  —  I'm 
not  Cordelia,  you  see." 

Genevieve  laughed  a  little  ruefully. 

"  There  wouldn't  anybody  know,  of  course,  unless 
I  told  the  rest;  and  I  can't  tell  the  rest." 

"Maybe  not,"  smiled  Harold,  oddly;  "but  Til 
wager  you'll  have  to  be  telling  something  to  Miss 
Jane  pretty  quick  now.  I  saw  you  when  you  flew 
out  of  the  yard  an  hour  ago,  and  I  fancy  Miss  Jane 
must  have  seen  you,  too.  At  any  rate,  she's  been 
to  the  door  three  times  since,  to  my  knowledge,  to 
look  for  you." 

Genevieve  clapped  her  hand  to  her  lips. 

"  Mercy !  I  never  thought  to  tell  them  a  word. 
I  just  ran." 

"  Yes,  I  noticed  you  —  ran,"  observed  Harold, 
dryly. 

"  And  they  always  want  to  know  just  where  I 
am,"  sighed  Genevieve.  "  O  dear !  if  you  do  some- 
thing bad  in  order  to  do  something  good,  which  is 
it  —  bad  or  good  ?  " 

Harold  shook  his  head. 

"  That's  not  in  mine,  either,"  he  retorted  whim- 
sically. "  Really,  Miss,  your  questions  on  ethics 
this  afternoon  do  you  credit  —  but  they're  too  much 
for  me." 

"  Well,  I  reckon  this  one  is  for  me,"  sighed 
Genevieve  again,  as  she  came  in  sight  of  the  house 
and  saw  Miss  Jane  Chick  at  the  window.  "  But  the 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  295 

other  one  —  I  know  the  answer  to  that.  I  shall 
burn  it  up,"  she  said  decisively,  clutching  even  more 
tightly  the  roll  of  papers  in  her  hand,  as  she  turned 
in  at  the  Kennedys'  front  walk. 


296  SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    XXII 

A    TEXAS    "  MISSIONARY  " 

OCTOBER  passed  and  November  came.  School 
was  decidedly  more  bearable  now,  in  the  opinion  of 
Genevieve,  perhaps  because  it  was  a  rainy  month; 
but  Genevieve  preferred  to  think  it  was  because  of 
Miss  Hart.  It  was  strange,  really,  how  much  Miss 
Hart  had  improved  as  a  teacher!  —  all  the  school 
agreed  to  that.  Even  Tilly  ceased  to  call  her  "  Hart- 
less." 

"  Maybe  she  came  in  a  jolly  box,  after  all," 
Harold  said  one  day  to  Genevieve;  but  Genevieve 
tossed  her  head. 

"  Pooh !  She  wasn't  in  any  box  at  all,  Harold. 
She's  —  folks!  "  And  Harold  saw  that,  in  spite  of 
the  lightness  of  her  words,  there  were  almost  tears 
in  Genevieve's  eyes. 

Presidential  duties,  too,  were  easier  for  Genevieve 
now.  They  proved  to  be,  in  fact,  very  far  from 
arduous ;  and,  as  Tilly  declared,  they  were,  indeed, 
"  dreadfully  honorable." 

As  correspondent  for  the  school  magazine  Gene- 
vieve did  not  feel  herself  to  be  a  success.  She  wrote 
few  items,  and  sent  in  even  fewer. 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  297 

Those  she  did  write  represented  hours  of  labor, 
however;  for  she  felt  that  the  weight  of  nations 
lay  on  every  word,  and  she  wrote  and  rewrote  the 
poor  little  sentences  until  every  vestige  of  natural- 
ness and  of  spontaneity  were  taken  out  of  them. 
Such  information  as  she  could  gather  seemed  al- 
ways, in  her  eyes,  either  too  frivolous  to  be  worth 
notice,  or  too  serious  to  be  of  interest.  And  ever 
before  her  frightened  eyes  loomed  the  bugbear  of 
PRINT. 

It  was  during  the  short  vacation  of  three  days  at 
Thanksgiving  time  that  Nancy,  the  second  girl  at 
the  Kennedys',  came  to  the  parlor  door  one  after- 
noon and  interrupted  Genevieve's  practising. 

"  Miss  Genevieve,  I  do  be  hatin'  ter  tell  ye,"  she 
began  indignantly,  "  but  there's  a  man  at  the  side 
door  on  horseback  what  is  insistin'  on  seein'  of  ye ; 
and  Mis'  Kennedy  and  Miss  Jane  ain't  home  from 
town  yet." 

"  Why,  Nancy,  who  is  the  man  ?  " 

"  I  ain't  sayin'  that  I  know,  Miss,  but  I  do  say 
that  he  is  powerful  rough-lookin'  to  come  to  the 
likes  o'  this  house  a-claimin'  he's  Mis'  Granger's 
cousin,  as  he  does." 

"  Reddy !  Why,  of  course  I'll  see  Reddy,"  cried 
Genevieve,  springing  to  her  feet. 

A  minute  later,  to  Nancy's  vast  displeasure,  Gene- 
vieve was  ushering  into  the  sitting  room  a  sandy- 


298  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

haired  man  in  full  cowboy  costume  from  broad- 
brimmed  hat  and  flannel  shirt  to  chaparejos  and 
high-heeled  boots. 

Reddy  evidently  saw  the  surprise  in  Genevieve's 
face. 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  he  smiled  sheepishly,  as  Nancy^ 
left  the  room  with  slow  reluctance,  "  I  reckon  you're 
surprised  to  see  me  in  this  rig,  and  I'll  own  I  hain't 
wore  'em  much  since  I  came;  but  to-day,  to  come 
to  see  you,  I  just  had  to.  You  see,  Miss  Genevieve, 
it's  what  this  'ere  rig  stands  for  that  I  want  to  see 
you  about,  anyhow." 

"  About  —  this  —  rig?  " 

"  Well,  yes  —  in  a  way.    It's  about  the  West." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  It's  Martha  —  Mis'  Granger,  my  cousin.  I  want 
her  to  go  back  with  me.  She's  all  alone,  and  so  am 
I.  And  she'd  come  in  a  minute,  but  she's  — 
afraid." 

"What  of?" 

Reddy's  lips  twitched. 

"  Indians  and  prairie  fires  and  bucking  bronchos 
and  buffaloes.  She  thinks  all  of  'em  run  'round 
loose  all  the  time  —  in  Texas." 

Genevieve  laughed  merrily. 

"  The  idea!     Haven't  you  told  her  they  don't?  " 

"  Oh,  yes ;  and  I've  come  to  see  if  you  won't  tell 
her." 

"I!" 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          299 

"  Yes.  She  thinks  I'm  a  man  and  rough  any- 
how, so  I  don't  count.  Would  you  be  willing  to 
come  and  talk  Texas  to  her?  " 

"  Why,  of  course  I  will,"  cried  Genevieve.  "  I'll 
come  right  away  to-day,  after  I've  finished  myj 
hour." 

"  Thank  you,"  sighed  Reddy,  rising  to  his  feet. 
"  Now  I'll  hit  the  trail  for  Texas  inside  of  a  month 
—  you  see  if  I  don't !  What  you  say  will  go." 

"Oh,  but  don't  be  too  sure  of  that,  Reddy," 
frowned  Genevieve,  anxiously. 

"I  ain't.  I'm  just  sure  —  and  that's  all  right," 
retorted  Reddy,  cheerfully.  "  And  mighty  glad  I 
shall  be  to  get  there,  too !  I'd  be  plum  locoed  here 
in  another  month.  You  see,  I've  got  some  money 
now,  and  I  know  a  nice  little  place  I  can  buy  cheap, 
to  start  in  for  myself.  Martha'll  take  Jim  Small's 
girl,  'Mandy,  for  company  and  to  help.  You  see 
we've  got  her  already  roped." 

"  She  wants  to  go,  then?  " 

"  Dyin'  to.  It  all  depends  on  you  now,  Miss 
Genevieve." 

"All  right;  I'll  be  there,"  promised  the  girl, 
laughingly,  as  Reddy,  watched  by  Nancy's  disap- 
proving eyes  from  the  kitchen  window,  swung  him- 
self into  the  saddle  and  galloped  down  the  drive- 
way. 

A  little  later  Genevieve  met  Mrs.  Kennedy  and 
Miss  Chick  at  the  foot  of  the  front  walk. 


300  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  I've  taken  my  music  lesson  and  done  my  hour, 
and  I'm  off  on  missionary  work  now/'  she  beamed 
brightly.  "  I  knew  you'd  let  me  go,  so  I  didn't 
wait  till  you  came  home." 

"Missionary  work?"  frowned  Miss  Chick. 

"Why,  what  do  you  mean?"  questioned  Mrs. 
Kennedy. 

Genevieve  chuckled. 

"  It's  to  teach  Mrs.  Granger  that  Texas  has  some- 
thing besides  bucking  bronchos  and  prairie  fires. 
You  see,  Reddy  wants  to  take  her  West,  and  she's 
afraid.  She  thinks  those  things,  and  Indians  and 
buffaloes,  are  all  that  grow  there.  So  I'm  going  to 
tell  her  a  thing  or  two,"  she  finished  with  a  nod 
and  a  smile. 

Just  how  successful  Genevieve  was  with  her  mis- 
sionary work  perhaps  she  herself  did  not  realize 
until  nearly  a  fortnight  later,  when  Cordelia  Wil- 
son overtook  her  on  the  way  to  school  one 
morning. 

"  Genevieve,  Genevieve,  please,"  panted  Cordelia. 
"  I  want  you  to  do  some  missionary  work  for  me ! 
Will  you?" 

Genevieve  turned  in  surprise. 

"  '  Missionary  work ! '     What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

Cordelia  laughed  and  colored. 

"  Well,  it's  what  you  did  for  Mrs.  Granger. 
Reddy  told  me.  He  said  you  called  it  missionary 
work  —  and  that  'twas  missionary  work,  too.  You 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          301 

know  they're  to  start  next  week,  and  they're  all  so 
happy  over  it !  " 

1  Yes,  I  know/'  nodded  Genevieve ;  "  and  I'm  so 
glad!" 

"  So  am  I,"  sighed  the  other,  fervently.  "  You 
see,  Reddy  being  my  find,  so,  I  felt  responsible; 
and  of  course  I  ought  to  feel  that  way,  too.  Just 
think  —  what  if  they  weren't  happy  over  it !  " 

"  But  they  are,"  smiled  Genevieve.  "  What's  the 
use  of  '  if-ing  '  a  thing  when  it  just  is  already?  " 

"  What?  "  Cordelia's  eyes  were  slightly  puzzled. 
"Oh,  I  see,"  she  laughed.  "What  a  funny  way 
you  do  have  of  putting  things,  Genevieve  Hartley! 
Why  don't  you  say  such  things  as  that  in  your  notes 
for  the  magazine  ?  " 

"  In  the  magazine  ?  —  mercy !  Why,  Cordelia, 
they're  printed! " 

"  Well,  what  of  it  ?  "  maintained  Cordelia. 

"What  of  what?"  chirped  a  new  voice;  and 
Tilly  Mack  hurried  up  from  behind  them. 

Cordelia  looked  plainly  disappointed;  but  Gene- 
vieve turned  with  a  light  laugh. 

"  My  magazine  notes,  Tilly.  Cordelia  doesn't 
like  them,"  she  explained. 

"  Oh,  but  Genevieve,  it's  only  that  I  want  you  to 
write  as  you  talk,"  supplemented  Cordelia,  in  dis- 
tress. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know.  I'm  sure  —  aren't  they 
true  ?  "  bridled  Genevieve. 


302  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"True!"  giggled  Tilly,  suddenly.  "Oh,  yes, 
they're  true,  just  as  '  c-a-t  spells  cat '  is  true  —  and 
they  sound  just  about  like  that,  too,  Genevieve 
Hartley,  and  you  know  it." 

"  Humph !   I  like  that,"  bridled  Genevieve,  again. 

"  Oh,  Tilly,  she  writes  lovely  notes  —  you  know 
she  does,"  championed  Cordelia,  almost  tearfully. 

"  No,  I  don't  write  lovely  notes,"  disputed  Gene- 
vieve, with  unexpected  frankness.  :i  They're  just 
like  Tilly  says  they  are,  and  they're  horrid.  I  do 
say  '  c-a-t  spells  cat '  every  time  —  but  I  simply 
can't  seem  to  say  anything  else !  " 

"  But  why  don't  you  write  as  you  talk?  "  argued 
Tilly. 

"  Or  as  you  do  in  the  Chronicles  ?  "  added  Cor- 
delia. "  You  write  just  beautifully  there." 

"  But,  Cordelia,  that  isn't  printed"  cried  Gene- 
vieve, again,  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the  school 
building  and  saw  Elsie  Martin  coming  to  meet  them. 

At  the  doorway  of  the  classroom  Cordelia  whis- 
pered to  Genevieve: 

"  Please  wait  after  school  for  me.  I'll  tell  you 
then  —  about  the  missionary  work,  you  know." 
And  Genevieve  nodded  assent. 

Once  or  twice  during  the  day,  Genevieve  won- 
dered what  Cordelia's  missionary  work  could  be; 
but  for  the  most  part  study  and  recitation  filled  her 
thoughts  and  time.  Mid-year  examinations  were 
approaching,  and,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  she  had 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          303 

been  doing  much  better  work  for  the  last  month, 
she  felt  by  no  means  sure  of  herself  for  the  dreaded 
ordeal.  It  was  of  this  she  was  thinking  when  she 
met  Cordelia  according  to  agreement  at  the  close 
of  the  short  afternoon  session. 

"Here  I  am,  dear,"  she  sighed;  "but,  really,  I 
reckon  I'm  the  one  that  needs  the  missionary  work 
if  any  one  does  —  with  those  horrid  exams  looming 
up  before  me." 

"  Oh,  but  you've  been  doing  such  splendid  work 
—  lately !  "  cried  Cordelia. 

;t  Thank  you/'  retorted  Genevieve,  wrinkling  up 
her  nose  saucily  at  the  pause  before  the  "  lately." 
"  I  perceive  you  still  know  how  to  tell  the  truth, 
Miss!" 

"  Genevieve !  "  protested  Cordelia. 

"  Oh,  then  you  mean  it  wasn't  the  truth,"  ban- 
tered her  friend. 

"  Genevieve !  "  groaned  Cordelia,  hopelessly. 

"  There,  there,  never  mind,"  laughed  the  other. 
"  Come,  we  must  be  running  along ;  then  you  shall 
tell  me  all  about  this  wonderful  missionary  work 
of  yours.  What  is  it?  " 

"  Well,  it  —  it's  about  another  of  my  —  my 
finds." 

"Oh,  your  lost  people?" 

:f  Yes.  It's  John  Sanborn,  Hermit  Joe's  son, 
you  know.  He  wants  to  go  West  and  take  his 
father." 


304  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"Well,  can't  he?  Or  doesn't  his  father  want 
to  ?  Maybe  you  want  me  to  go  and  tell  Hermit  Joe 
not  to  be  afraid  of  bronchos  and  buffaloes/' 
laughed  Genevieve. 

A  swift  color  stole  into  Cordelia's  face. 

"  No ;   Hermit  Joe  wants  to  go." 

"Then  what  is  it?" 

Cordelia  laughed  shyly. 

"  Well,  it  —  it's  a  lady,  Genevieve." 

"  A  lady!  Why,  Hermit  Joe  and  his  son  haven't 
any  —  any  women  or  cousins,  have  they?" 

".No;  but  —  but  they  want  one,"  admitted  Cor- 
delia, a  little  breathlessly. 

Genevieve  stopped  short. 

"Cordelia,  what  are  you  talking  about?"  she 
demanded. 

Cordelia  laughed  softly,  but  she  grew  suddenly 
very  pink  indeed,  and  she  clasped  her  hands  raptur- 
ously. 

"  I'll  tell  you,  Genevieve.  I've  been  just  longing 
to  tell  you,  every  minute.  It's  the  loveliest  thing  — 
just  like  a  book!  It  seems  Hermit  Joe's  son,  years 
ago,  before  he  ran  away,  had  a  sweetheart,  Miss 
Sally  Hunt." 

"  That  little  old  maid  on  Hunt's  Hill  ?  She's  a 
dear,  I  think!" 

"  Yes ;  but  she  wasn't  old  then,  you  know.  She 
was  young,  and  so  pretty!  She  showed  me  her 
picture,  once  —  how  she  looked  then." 


SIX  STAB  RANCH          305 

"  Yes,  yes  —  go  on !  " 

"  Well,  they  were  sweethearts,  but  they  had  a 
quarrel  or  something,  and  —  anyhow,  Mr.  John 
Sanborn  ran  away." 

"  How  long  ago  ?  " 

"  Twenty  years ;  and  now  he's  back,  and  they've 
made  everything  all  up  lovely,  and  he  wants  to 
marry  her  and  take  her  West." 

"  Oh-h !  "  breathed  Genevieve.  "  It  is  just  like  a 
story ;  isn't  it  ?  And  didn't  it  turn  out  lovely !  " 

"  Y-yes,  only  it  hasn't  turned  out  yet." 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  I  thought  you  said  they'd 
made  it  all  up !  " 

"  They  have.  She'll  marry  him ;  but  she  —  she's 
afraid  of  Texas,  too,  just  as  Mrs.  Granger  was,  I 
guess.*' 

"Oh,  I  see,"  cried  Genevieve.  "Pooh!  We'll 
fix  that  in  no  time,"  finished  the  Texas  "  mission- 
ary," with  confidence. 

"  There,  I  knew  you  would,"  sighed  her  friend, 
blissfully.  "  You  see,  I  specially  wanted  Miss 
Sally  to  be  happy,  because  I  couldn't  find  — " 
Cordelia  caught  herself  up  in  time.  She  must  not, 
of  course,  tell  Genevieve  about  Sally  Hunt's  lost 
brother  whom  she  had  failed  to  find.  "  Well,  you 
know,  anyway,  Sally  Hunt  is  very  poor,"  she  ex- 
plained hastily ;  "  and  everybody  said,  when  we 
went  to  Texas  last  summer,  that  she'd  have  to  go 
to  the  Poor  Farm  soon,  if  something  wasn't  done. 


306  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

So  I'm  specially  glad  to  have  her  happy,  and  —  " 
Cordelia  stopped,  and  turned  to  Genevieve  with  a 
new  look  in  her  eyes. 

"  Genevieve,  I've  just  remembered,"  she  cried. 
"  At  the  ranch  last  summer,  when  I  was  talking  to 
Mr.  Jonathan  Edwards  and  didn't  know  his  name 
was  '  Sanborn  '  —  I've  just  remembered  that  I  told 
him  about  Miss  Sally,  and  how  she'd  have  to  go  to 
the  Poor  Farm.  Genevieve,  I'm  sure  —  I  just 
know  that's  one  reason  why  he  came  home !  " 

"  Of  course  it  was,"  agreed  Genevieve,  excitedly; 
"  and  we'll  go  straight  up  there  now,  if  Aunt  Julia'll 
let  us;  only  — "  her  face  fell  —  "Cordelia,  when 
shall  I  get  in  my  studying  ?  " 

"  To-night,  Genevieve ;  you  must  study  to- 
night," answered  Cordelia,  firmly.  "  You  mustn't 
sacrifice  your  studies  even  for  missionary  work. 
Uncle  always  says  it  isn't  right  to  send  money  to 
the  heathen  when  your  own  child  is  hungry;  and 
I'm  sure  this  is  the  same  thing.  Maybe  we  can  go 
Saturday  morning,  though,"  she  finished  hopefully. 

"  I'm  sure  we  can,"  declared  Genevieve ;  "  and 
I'm  just  as  excited  as  I  can  be.  I  just  love  mission- 
ary work,"  she  exulted,  as  she  waved  her  hand  in 
farewell,  at  her  street  corner. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          307 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

GENEVIEVE   GOES   TO   BOSTON 

DECEMBER  was  a  busy  month,  indeed.  To  Gene- 
vieve  it  seemed  actually  to  be  one  whirl  of  study, 
lessons,  practice,  and  examinations,  leaving  oh,  so 
little  time  for  Christmas  gifts  and  plans. 

A  big  box  was  to  go  to  the  Six  Star  Ranch,  and 
a  smaller  one  to  Quentina.  But,  better  than  all, 
Mr.  Jones  was  to  have  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Kennedy 
which  would  —  Genevieve  was  sure  —  carry  a 
wonderful  happiness  to  Quentina.  Mrs.  Kennedy 
was  to  ask  Mr.  Jones  to  let  Quentina  come  to  Sun- 
bridge  to  school  the  next  winter,  and  share  Gene- 
vieve's  room,  as  Mrs.  Kennedy's  guest.  All  other 
expenses,  railroad  fare,  school  supplies,  and  any 
special  instruction,  were  to  be  met  by  Mr.  Hartley 
through  Genevieve  herself. 

All  this,  of  course,  Genevieve  had  not  brought 
about  without  many  letters  to  Mr.  Hartley,  and 
many  talks  with  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  Miss  Chick, 
wherein  all  sorts  of  pleadings  and  promises  had  a 
part.  But  it  had  been  done  at  last,  and  the  letter 
was  to  go  in  the  Christmas  box  —  but  of  all  this  the 
Happy  Hexagons  were  not  to  know  until  the  an- 


308  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

swer  from  Mr.  Jones  came.  Naturally,  however, 
Genevieve  could  not  keep  all  her  attention  on  her 
studies  that  month,  in  spite  of  the  coming  examina- 
tions. 

There  was,  too,  more  than  one  visit  to  the  gentle 
spinster  on  Hunt's  Hill  before  Genevieve  quite  suc- 
ceeded in  convincing  Miss  Sally  that  there  were 
places  in  Texas  where  wild  Indians  did  not  prowl, 
nor  wild  horses  race  neck  and  neck  across  vast 
deserts  of  loneliness.  At  last,  however,  she  had 
the  satisfaction  of  hearing  from  John  Sanborn's 
own  grateful  lips  that  everything  was  all  right, 
and  that  the  wedding  day  was  set  for  April  the 
tenth. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  came  the  dreaded  exam- 
inations, then  the  fearful  waiting  till  the  last  day  of 
school  when  the  decision  would  be  announced.  The 
winter  before,  at  these  mid-year  examinations, 
Genevieve  had  not  passed.  She  had  not  forgotten 
the  mortification  of  that  tragedy,  nor  the  weary 
weeks  of  study  that  had  been  necessary  to  enable 
her  to  go  on  with  her  class.  So  she,  of  all  the  girls 
now,  was  awaiting  the  verdict  with  special  anxiety. 
Meanwhile,  all  the  Happy  Hexagons  were  spending 
every  available  minute  on  Christmas  gifts. 

It  was  just  a  week  before  Christmas  Day  that 
Genevieve  was  surprised  to  receive  a  hurried  after- 
school  call  from  Cordelia. 

"  Genevieve  —  quick !  "    panted    Cordelia,    drop- 


SIX   STAR  RANCH  309 

ping  herself  into  the  first  chair  she  came  to.  "  Can't 
we  do  something?  We  must  do  something!  " 

"Of  course  we  can,"  laughed  Genevieve, 
promptly ;  "  but  —  what  about  ?  " 

Cordelia  gave  a  faint  smile. 

"Yes,  I  know;  I  wasn't  very  explicit,"  she 
sighed.  "  But,  listen.  You  know  —  or  maybe 
you  didn't  know  —  but  the  Missionary  Society 
have  been  packing  a  barrel  to  go  West.  They're 
at  the  church  this  afternoon,  packing  it;  but  they 
didn't  have  half  enough,  and  they  sent  down  to  the 
parsonage  to  know  if  Aunt  Mary  hadn't  something 
more  —  some  old  clothes  of  the  children's,  or  old 
magazines,  or  anything.  Auntie's  sick  to-day  with 
an  awful  cold,  but  she  went  up  attic  and  hunted  up 
all  she  could;  then  after  I  got  home  from  school 
she  asked  me  to  take  them  down  to  the  church." 

"  Yes,  go  on,"  prompted  Genevieve,  as  Cordelia 
paused  for  breath. 

"  Well,  I  took  them ;  and,  Genevieve,  what  do 
you  think  ?  "  —  Cordelia's  voice  was  tragic  — 
"  that  missionary  barrel  was  going  to  the  Rev. 
Luke  Jones,  Bolo,  Texas.  Our  Mr.  Jones,  — 
Quentina !  " 

"Cordelia!     Really?" 

"  Yes.  You  know  they  told  us  they  got  them 
from  our  church  sometimes.  And,  Genevieve,  it 
was  awful  —  that  barrel !  It  looked  just  like  the 
other  one,  the  one  they  got  while  we  were  there 


310  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

that  day  —  old  shoes  and  dolls,  and  homely 
things !  " 

"  Oh,  Cordelia!     What  did  you  do?  " 

Cordelia  drew  in  her  breath  with  a  little  gasp. 

"  I  don't  know.  I  talked.  I  said  things  —  awful 
things.  I  know  they  were  awful  things  from  the 
looks  of  some  of  their  faces.  And  at  the  last  Mrs. 
Johnson  —  you  know  how  she  can  be  sometimes !  — 
she  —  she  just  snapped  out :  '  Very  well,  Miss  Cor- 
delia, if  you  are  not  satisfied  with  what  we  have 
been  able  to  procure  after  weeks  of  hard  work,  sup- 
pose you  go  out  yourself  and  solicit  gifts  for  your 
friends ! '  And,  Genevieve,  I  said  I  would.  And  I 
turned  'round  and  marched  out.  And  now  —  now 
—  what  shall  we  do  ?  " 

Genevieve  sprang  to  her  feet. 

"  Do  ?    Why,  we'll  do  it,  of  course/'  she  cried. 

"  But,  Genevieve,  I'm  so  scared.  What  if  folks 
won't  give  —  anything?  Those  women  worked 
weeks  —  they  said  they  did  —  for  what  they've 
got!" 

"  But  folks  will  give,"  declared  Genevieve,  with 
prompt  confidence.  "  Now  wait.  I'll  have  to  tell 
Aunt  Julia  where  I'm  going,  then  I'll  be  back  ready 
to  start,"  she  finished,  as  she  whisked  out  of  the 
room. 

"  Oh,  Genevieve,  you're  always  so  comfortingly 
sure''  sighed  Cordelia  to  the  door  through  which 
her  friend  had  just  sped. 


SIX  STAB  RANCH          311 

During  the  next  two  hours  Sunbridge,  as  repre- 
sented by  many  of  its  most  staid  and  stately  homes, 
received  the  surprise  of  its  life  —  a  surprise  that 
sent  hitherto  complacently  contented  women  scurry- 
ing into  attics  and  closets,  and  stirred  reputedly 
miserly  men  into  thrusting  hands  into  inside 
pockets  for  spare  bills. 

Perhaps  it  was  the  sight  of  the  eager  young  faces, 
alight  with  generous  enthusiasm.  Perhaps  it  was 
the  pathos  of  the  story  of  one  missionary  barrel  as 
told  by  girlish  lips  trembling  with  feeling.  Per- 
haps it  was  just  the  novelty  of  receiving  so  direct, 
and  so  confident  an  appeal  for  "  something  you'd 
like  to  have  given  to  you,  you  know.".  Perhaps  it 
was  a  little  of  all  three  that  worked  the  miracle. 
At  all  events,  in  the  church  parlor  some  time  later, 
a  little  band  of  excited,  marveling  women  worked 
until  far  into  the  evening  packing  a  missionary 
barrel  for  the  Rev.  Luke  Jones.  And  when  it  left 
their  hands,  there  was  in  it  the  pretty  dress  for  the 
minister's  wife,  the  unworn  underclothing  for  the 
minister's  boys,  the  fresh  hair-ribbons  for  the  min- 
ister's daughter,  and  the  serviceable  coat  for  the 
minister  himself,  to  say  nothing  of  uncounted 
books,  games,  and  household  articles  of  a  worth 
and  desirability  likely  to  make  a  missionary  minis- 
ter's family  exclaim  with  surprise  and  delight  — 
until  they  found  the  generous  roll  of  bills  in  the 
minister's  coat  pocket,  when  they  would  be  dumb 


312  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

with  a  great  wave  of  reverent  gratitude  to  a  God 
who  could  make  human  hearts  so  kind. 

"  There!  "  sighed  Genevieve,  when  she  and  Cor- 
delia had  left  their  last  parcels  at  the  church  door. 
"  I  reckon  we've  got  something  different  for  that 
barrel  now  —  but  we'll  never  let  Quentina  know, 
never  —  that  we  had  a  thing  to  do  with  packing  it." 

"No;  but  I  guess  she'll  suspect  it,  though,"  re- 
turned Cordelia,  with  a  teary  smile.  "  But,  oh, 
Genevieve,  didn't  they  give  just  splendidly!  " 

"  I  knew  they  would,"  declared  Genevieve,  "if 
they  just  understood." 

"Well,  then,  I  wish  they'd  —  understand 
oftener,"  sighed  Cordelia,  as  she  turned  down  her 
street. 

Two  days  later  the  Happy  Hexagons  were  hold- 
ing a  hurried  meeting  at  the  parsonage  after  school. 
It  was  the  night  before  the  last  day  of  the  term, 
and  they  were  all  trying  to  work  at  once  on  the 
sofa  pillow  they  had  planned  to  give  Miss  Hart. 
Cordelia  was  making  the  tassel  for  one  corner,  and 
Alma  Lane  one  for  another.  The  other  two  tassels 
were  being  sewed  on  by  Elsie  and  Bertha.  Tilly 
was  writing  the  card  to  go  with  it,  and  Genevieve 
was  holding  the  paper  and  ribbon  with  which  to  do 
it  up. 

"  I'm  going  to  do  as  Miss  Jane  does,  next  year," 
sighed  Genevieve,  at  last. 

"  And  what  does  Miss  Jane  do?  "  asked  Tilly. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          313 

"  Begins  in  January  to  get  ready  for  Christmas. 
Now  I've  got  exactly  seventy-nine  and  one  things 
to  do  before  next  Tuesday  —  and  to-day  is  Thurs- 
day." 

"  You  must  have  spent  part  of  your  valuable  time 
counting  them,"  teased  Tilly,  "  to  have  figured  them 
down  so  fine  as  that." 

"  Seventy-nine  and  one  are  eighty,"  observed 
Cordelia,  with  a  little  frown.  "  Why  didn't  you 
say  eighty  to  begin  with,  Genevieve  ?  " 

"  Because  she  wanted  to  give  your  brain  some- 
thing to  do,  too,"  explained  Tilly,  wearing  an  ex- 
aggeratedly innocent  air. 

"Tilly!"  scolded  Genevieve.  But  Tilly  only 
laughed,  and  Cordelia  forgot  her  question  with  the 
last  stitch  she  put  into  her  tassel. 

The  pillow  was  given  to  Miss  Hart  the  next  day, 
and,  apparently,  made  the  lady  very  happy.  Nor 
was  Miss  Hart  the  only  one  that  was  made  happy 
that  day.  Genevieve,  and  in  fact,  all  the  Happy 
Hexagons,  together  with  O.  B.  J.  Holmes  and 
nearly  all  the  rest  of  the  class,  knew  before  night 
that  they  had  "  passed  "  —  which  is  no  small  thing 
to  know,  when  for  days  you  have  worried  and  for 
nights  you  have  dreamed  about  the  dreadful  alterna- 
tive of  a  contrary  verdict. 

With  Miss  Jane  Chick,  Geaevieve  went  to  Bos- 
ton shopping,  Saturday,  coming  back  tired,  but 
happy,  and  all  aglow  with  the  holiday  rush  and 


314  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

color  of  the  crowded  streets  and  stores.  On  Sun- 
day came  the  beautiful  Christmas  service,  which 
Mr.  Wilson  made  very  impressive.  Certainly  it 
touched  Genevieve's  heart  deeply,  as  she  sat  by 
Mrs.  Kennedy's  side  and  listened  to  it.  It  seemed 
so  easy  to  Genevieve,  at  that  moment,  always  to  be 
good  and  brave  and  true  —  always  to  be  thoughtful 
of  others'  wishes  —  never  to  be  heedless,  careless,  or 
impulsively  reckless  of  consequences ! 

It  was  snowing  when  she  left  the  church,  and  it 
snowed  hard  all  the  afternoon  and  until  far  into  the 
night.  Genevieve  awoke  to  look  out  on  a  spotlessly 
white,  crystal-pure  world,  with  every  ugly  line  and 
dreary  prospect  changed  into  fairylike  beauty. 

"  Oh  —  oh  —  oh,  isn't  it  lovely !  "  she  exclaimed, 
as  she  came  into  the  dining-room  that  morning. 
"  Don't  I  wish  Quentina  were  here  to  see  it  —  and 
to  talk  about  it !  " 

"  We'll  hope  she  will  be  some  day,"  smiled  Mrs. 
Kennedy. 

"  Anyhow,  '  Here's  Miss  Jane  at  the  window- 
pane  '  all  ready  for  her,"  chanted  Genevieve,  mer- 
rily, her  eyes  on  the  tall  figure  in  the  bay  window. 

Miss  Jane  turned  with  a  sigh. 

"  Yes,  it's  very  lovely,  of  course,  Genevieve  — 
but  I  must  confess  it  isn't  lovely  to  me  this  morn- 
ing." 

"Why,  Miss  Jane!" 

"  I  had  planned  to  go  to  Boston.    In  fact  it  seems 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          315 

as  if  I  must  go.  But  I  have  waked  up  with  a  sore 
throat  and  every  evidence  of  a  bad  cold;  and  I'm 
afraid  I  don't  dare  to  go  —  not  with  all  this  new 
snow  on  the  ground  and  dampness  in  the  air." 

"  Couldn't  I  go,  Miss  Jane  ?  I  was  going  to  ask 
to  go,  anyway.  I  find  there  are  three  more  things 
I  want  to  get,  and  I  know  I  can't  find  them  here." 

"  But  you  have  never  been  to  Boston  alone,  my 
dear." 

"  I  suppose  everybody  has  to  have  a  first  time,", 
laughed  Genevieve ;  "  and  I'm  not  a  mite  afraid. 
Besides,  1  know  the  way  perfectly,  all  through  the 
shopping  district;  and  all  I  have  to  do  then  is  just 
to  take  the  car  for  the  North  Station  and  the 
train  home.  I  reckon  I  know  how  to  do  that 
all  right!" 

Miss  Jane  frowned  and  shook  her  head  slowly. 

"  I  know ;  but  —  I  hate  to  let  you  do  it,  Gene- 
vieve, only  I  —  it  seems  as  if  I  must  go  myself!  " 

Mrs.  Kennedy  looked  up  reassuringly. 

"  Indeed,  Jane,  I  am  inclined  to  think  Genevieve 
can  go  all  right,"  she  smiJed.  "  She  has  been  to 
Boston  now  many  times,  you  know." 

"  There,  Miss  Jane !  "  crowed  Genevieve,  tri- 
umphantly. "  You  see !  Please,  now,"  she  begged. 

Miss  Jane  still  frowned  —  but  a  look  of  almost 
reluctant  relief  came  to  her  eyes. 

"  Very  well,"  she  conceded  slowly.  "  Perhaps, 
my  dear,  I  will  let  you  go  for  me,  then." 


316  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  Miss  Jane  —  besides,  there  are 
several  things  I  want  for  myself." 

"  Very  well,  dear.  I  have  three  things  that  must 
be  changed,  and  there  are  two  that  I  want  you  to 
buy.  It  seems  so  absurd  —  when  I  began  last  Janu- 
ary —  that  there  should  be  anything  to  be  done 
to-day;  but,  unfortunately,  some  of  my  plans  had 
to  be  changed  at  the  last  moment.  You  may  get 
ready  at  once  after  breakfast,  please,  then  come  to 
my  room.  I'll  have  the  list  all  made  out  for  you. 
You'll  have  to  bring  everything  home,  of  course, 
but  they  are  not  very  heavy,  and  you  can  carry 
them  all  in  the  large  hand  bag,  I  think.  You'd 
better  take  the  nine-four  train." 

It  was  not  quite  half -past  ten  when  Genevieve 
arrived  in  the  great  Boston  station  that  morning. 
She  glanced  importantly  at  her  pretty  little  watch, 
took  a  firmer  hold  on  the  large  leather  bag  she  car- 
ried, and  stepped  briskly  off  toward  her  car. 

It  was  delightful  —  this  independent  feeling  of 
freedom.  Even  to  pay  her  fare  and  to  signal  the 
conductor  to  stop  were  Events.  Shopping,  all  by 
/herself,  was  even  more  delightful;  so  she  dallied 
over  every  purchase  and  every  exchange  as  long  as 
she  could  —  and  it  was  not  hard  to  dally,  with  the 
crowds,  the  long  waits,  and  the  delays  for  change. 

At  one  o'clock,  when  in  state  she  ate  her  luncheon 
at  a  pretty  white  table  in  a  large  department-store 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          317 

dining-room,  she  'had  not  half  finished  her  task. 
She  was  so  glad  there  was  still  so  much  to  do! 
But  at  four  o'clock,  when  she  did  finish,  she  looked 
at  her  watch  with  faintly  troubled  eyes.  She  had 
not,  indeed,  realized  that  it  was  quite  so  late.  She 
remembered,  too,  suddenly,  for  the  first  time,  that 
Miss  Chick  lhad  told  her  to  come  back  early.  She 
wondered  —  could  she  catch  the  four-twenty  train  ? 

Stores  and  sidewalks  were  a  mass  of  surging, 
thronging  humanity  now,  and  progress  was  slow 
and  uncertain.  When,  at  ten  minutes  past  four, 
she  had  not  succeeded  even  in  reaching  her  car  for 
the  station,  she  gave  up  the  four-twenty  train. 
Well,  there  was  one  at  five-fifteen,  she  comforted 
herself.  She  could  surely  get  that. 

The  streets  were  darkening  fast,  and  lights  were 
beginning  to  flash  here  and  there,  finding  a  brilliant 
response  in  tinsel  stars  and  crystal  pendants.  With 
the  Christmas  red  and  green,  and  the  thronging 
crowds,  it  made  a  pretty  sight;  and  Genevieve 
stopped  more  than  once  just  to  look  about  her  with 
a  deep  breath  of  delight.  It  was.  at  such  a  time 
that  she  saw  the  small  ragged  boy,  and  the  still 
smaller,  still  more  ragged  girl  wistfully  gazing 
into  the  fairyland  of  a  toyshop  window. 

"  I  choose  the  fire  engine,  the  big  red  one/'  she 
heard  a  shrill  voice  pipe;  and  she  looked  down  to 
see  that  it  was  the  boy's  blue  lips  that  had  uttered 
the  words. 


318  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  I  d-druther  have  that  d-doll,"  chattered  the 
mite  of  a  girl ;  "  an'  that  teeny  little  bedstead  an' 
the  chair  what  rocks,  an'  the  baby  trunk,  an'  the 
doll  with  curly  hair,  an'  —  " 

"  Gee !  look  at  the  autymobile,"  cut  in  the  boy, 
excitedly.  "  Say,  if  I  had  that  —  " 

"  Well,  you  shall  have  it,  you  poor  little  mite,  — 
or  one  just  like  it,"  cried  Genevieve  impulsively, 
sweeping  the  astonished  children  into  the  circle  of 
her  arm,  and  hurrying  them  into  the  store. 

They  did  not  get  the  "  autymobile  "  nor  yet  the 
engine  nor  the  big  doll.  Genevieve  selected  them, 
to  be  sure,  with  blithe  promptness;  but  when  she 
took  out  her  purse,  she  found  she  had  not  half 
money  enough  to  pay  for  them,  which  mortified 
and  disappointed  her  greatly. 

"  Dear,  dear !  "  she  laughed,  blushing  painfully. 
"  I'm  afraid  I  can't  manage  it,  after  all,  chicka- 
biddies. That  horrid  money  of  mine  has  given  out ! 
I  bought  more  things  than  I  meant  to,  anyhow. 
Never  mind,  we'll  get  all  we  can,"  she  cried,  empty- 
ing her  little  purse  on  the  counter,  even  shaking  it 
to  make  sure  no  lurking  penny  stayed  behind. 
"  There,  you'll  have  to  make  that  do,"  she  said  to 
the  amazed  clerk  behind  the  counter.  "  Just  please 
give  them  whatever  you  can  for  that."  And  the 
clerk,  counting  out  one  dollar  and  eighty-three 
cents,  obeyed  her  literally. 

A  few  minutes  later,  two  dazed,  but  blissfully 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          319 

happy  children  clasping  in  their  arms  a  motley  array 
of  toys,  and  a  laughing,  bright-faced  girl  with  a 
tan  leather  bag,  joined  the  hurrying  throng  on  the 
street. 

"  Good-by,  chickabiddies,  and  good  luck  to  you," 
called  Genevieve,  waving  her  hand  in  farewell  to 
the  children,  as  she  spied  her  car  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

"  Poor  little  midgets !  "  thought  Genevieve,  as  she 
stepped  on  to  the  car ;  "  I  don't  think  now  they 
really  believe  they've  got  those  things.  But  I  do 
wish  I  could  have  bought  all  those  first  things  they 
selected !  "  A  moment  later  she  took  out  her  purse 
to  pay  her  fare. 

The  conductor,  coming  toward  her  just  then,  saw 
her  face  turn  red,  then  white.  The  next  minute  she 
was  on  her  feet,  hurrying  toward  him. 

"  Fare,  please,"  he  said  mechanically,  holding  out 
his  hand. 

She  shook  her  head. 

"I  —  I  don't  want  this  car,"  she  stammered 
faintly.  "  If  you'll  —  stop,  please."  A  moment 
later  she  rushed  blindly  through  the  door  and  down 
the  steps  to  the  street. 

Genevieve  was  thoroughly  angry,  and  very  much 
ashamed. 

"  Now  I  reckon  I've  done  it,"  she  muttered  half 
aloud.  "  No  wonder  they  say  I  never  stop  to  think ! 
Seems  to  me  I  might  have  thought  to  save  a  nickel 


320  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

for  my  car-fare,  though!  Never  mind,  I'll  walk  it. 
Serves  me  right,  anyhow,  I  reckon !  "  And  deter- 
minedly she  turned  toward  a  woman  near  her  and 
asked  the  way  to  the  North  Station. 

It  would  be  something  of  a  walk,  the  woman  said, 
as  she  gave  directions;  but  Genevieve  declared  she 
did  not  mind  that.  Very  courageously,  therefore, 
she  turned  a  corner  and  began  to  thread  her  way 
among  the  crowd. 

She  was  laughing  now.  This  thing  was  some- 
thing of  a  joke,  after  all.  Still,  she  was  rather 
sorry  it  had  happened  —  on  Miss  Jane's  errand. 
She  would  be  late  home,  too.  ( She  pulled  aside  the 
lapel  of  her  coat  and  glanced  at  her  watch.)  Five 
o'clock,  already!  It  would  be  late,  indeed,  if  she 
could  not  catch  the  five-fifteen!  Still,  there  must 
be  other  trains,  of  course,  and  it  took  only  an  hour 
and  twenty  minutes  to  go  — 

Genevieve  stopped  with  a  little  cry  of  dismay. 
She  remembered  now  that  she  had  used  the  last  of 
the  commutation  tickets.  Miss  Jane  had  told  her 
to  get  a  single-fare  ticket  for  the  return  trip.  And 
now  —  pray,  how  was  one  to  buy  any  sort  of  fare 
without  any  money? 

A  hurrying  man  jostled  her,  and  Genevieve 
stepped  into  a  doorway  to  think.  Across  the  street 
a  blue-bell-sign  caught  her  attention,  and  sent  a 
swift  light  to  her  eye. 

Why,  of  course!    She  would  telephone  for  Aunt 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          321 

Julia  to  send  Nancy  or  somebody  in  with  some 
money.  Why  had  she  not  thought  of  it  before? 

She  had  pushed  her  way  half  across  the  crowded 
street  when  it  occurred  to  her  that  she  needed  money 
to  pay  the  telephone  toll. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  place !  It  takes  money  to 
do  everything!  I  just  hate  cities,"  she  stormed 
hotly  —  then  jumped  just  in  time  to  escape  the 
wheels  of  a  swiftly-moving  automobile. 

Safely  back  in  the  doorway,  she  tried  to  think 
once  more.  Then,  slowly,  she  began  to  retrace  her 
steps  toward  the  corner  from  which  she  had  started. 

The  crowds  were  just  as  gay,  the  Christmas  reds 
and  greens  just  as  brilliant,  and  the  tinsel  stars  and 
crystal  pendants  were  just  as  sparkling;  but  Gene- 
vieve  did  not  even  look  at  them  now.  She  was 
tired,  ashamed,  and  thoroughly  frightened.  The 
bag,  too,  began  to  seem  woefully  full,  and  her 
stomach  correspondingly  empty. 

Curiously  enough,  after  a  time,  the  Christmas 
service  of  the  day  before  rang  in  her  ears.  It 
seemed  so  far  away  now.  And  yet  —  it  was  only 
yesterday  that  she  had  been  promising  herself  never 
again  to  be  thoughtless,  heedless,  or  impulsively 
reckless  of  consequences.  And  now  — 

Suddenly  she  almost  smiled.  She  was  thinking 
of  her  question  to  Harold: 

"  If  you  do  something  bad  to  do  something  good, 
which  is  it,  good  or  bad  ?  " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH 


One  by  one  the  minutes  passed.  It  grew  darker 
and  colder.  At  times  Genevieve  walked  on  aim- 
lessly. At  others,  she  stood  one  side,  watching  the 
crowds,  hoping  to  find  some  man  or  woman  whom 
she  could  dare  to  ask  for  money.  But  her  cheeks 
burned  at  the  thought,  and  she  never  saw  the  man 
or  woman  whom  she  wanted  to  ask  —  for  money. 
That  the  blue-coated  man  at  the  street-crossing 
might  help  her,  never  occurred  to  Genevieve. 
Genevieve  knew  policemen  only  as  vaguely  dread- 
ful creatures  connected  with  jails  and  arrests. 

In  time  it  came  to  be  quite  dark.  Genevieve  won- 
dered what  would  become  of  her  —  by  midnight. 
People  did  not  starve  or  die,  she  supposed,  in  Bos- 
ton streets  —  not  when  the  streets  were  as  bright 
as  these.  But  she  must  get  to  Sunbridge.  Sun- 
bridge!  How  worried  they  must  be  about  her  now 
in  Sunbridge,  and  how  she  wished  she  were  there! 
She  would  be  glad  to  see  even  Miss  Jane's  severest 
frown  —  if  she  could  see  Miss  Jane,  too  ! 

It  was  six  o'clock  when  Genevieve  suddenly  re- 
membered Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Butterfield.  She 
wondered  then  how  it  was  possible  that  she  had  for- 
gotten them  so  long. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Butterfield  were  two 
friends  of  Mrs.  Kennedy's  not  very  far  from  sixty 
years  old.  They  lived  in  a  quaint  old  house  on  Mt. 
Vernon  Street,  on  top  of  Beacon  Hill  —  Genevieve 
thought  she  remembered  the  number.  She  remem- 


SIX  STAB  RANCH 


bered  the  house  very  well,  for  she  had  called  there 
twice  with  Mrs.  Kennedy  the  winter  before. 

It  was  with  a  glad  little  cry  that  Genevieve  now 
turned  to  the  first  woman  she  met  and  asked  the 
way  to  Mt.  Vernon  Street. 

In  the  somber  Butterfield  dining-room  on  Mt. 
Vernon  Street,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Butterfield 
had  almost  finished  dinner,  when  their  pompous, 
plainly  scandalized  butler,  standing  beneath  the 
severest  of  the  severe  Butterfield  portraits,  an- 
nounced stiffly: 

"  There's  a  young  person  at  the  door,  ma'am, 
with  a  bag.  She  says  she  knows  you,  if  you'll  see 
her,  please." 

One  minute  later,  the  astonished  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  Butterfield  caught  in  their  arms  a  white- 
faced,  almost  fainting  girl,  who  had  sobbed  out : 

"  Please,  won't  you  give  me  a  little  money  and 
some  supper,  and  telephone  to  Aunt  Julia !  " 

Seven  minutes  later  Mr.  Thomas  Butterfield  had 
Mrs.  Kennedy  at  the  other  end  of  the  wire. 


324  SIX  STAR  RANCH 


CHAPTER    XXIV 

A   BROWN    DRESS    FOR   ELSIE 

CHRISTMAS,  for  Genevieve,  was  not  a  happy  time 
that  year;  and  when  the  day  was  over  she  tried  to 
forget  it  as  soon  as  possible. 

She  had  stayed  all  night  with  the  Butterfields  — 
which  had  not  been  unalloyed  joy;  for,  though  they 
obviously  tried  to  be  kind  to  her,  yet  they  could  not 
help  showing  that  they  regarded  her  sudden  appear- 
ance among  them,  dinnerless  and  moneyless,  as 
most  extraordinary,  and  certainly  very  upsetting 
to  the  equanimity  of  a  well-ordered  household. 

In  the  morning  she  went  back  to  Sunbridge.  At 
the  house  she  found  Miss  Chick  ill.  Her  cold,  and 
her  fright  over  Genevieve,  had  sent  her  into  a  high 
fever;  and  Mrs.  Kennedy  was  scarcely  less  ill  her- 
self. 

Certainly  it  was  not  exactly  a  cheerful  Christmas 
Day  for  the  one  whose  heedlessness  had  brought  it 
all  about.  But  Genevieve  mourned  so  bitterly,  and 
blamed  herself  so  strongly,  that  at  last,  out  of  sheer 
pity,  Mrs.  Kennedy,  and  even  Miss  Jane  Chick, 
had  to  turn  comforter ;  for  —  as  Mrs.  Kennedy  re- 
minded her  sister  —  it  was,  after  all,  aside  from  her 


SIX  STAB  BANCH          325 

thoughtless  lack  of  haste,  only  Genevieve's  unselfish 
forgetfulness  of  her  own  possible  wants  that  led  to 
the  whole  thing.  Then,  and  not  until  then,  did 
Genevieve  bestow  some  attention  upon  her  Christ- 
mas presents,  of  which  there  were  a  generous  num- 
ber. 

Fortunately  no  one  outside  the  house  had  known 
of  Genevieve's  nonappearance  that  Christmas  Eve, 
so  she  was  spared  any  curious  questions  and  inter- 
ested comments  from  others  of  the  Happy  Hexa- 
gons. 

The  short  Christmas  vacation  sped  rapidly.  The 
young  people  spent  much  of  it  on  the  river,  skating, 
when  the  ice  was  good.  Genevieve,  it  is  true,  was 
not  often  seen  there.  Genevieve  was  playing  nurse 
these  days,  and  so  devotedly  attentive  to  Miss  Jane 
Chick  was  she,  that  both  the  ladies  had  almost  to 
scold  her,  in  order  to  make  her  take  needed  exercise. 
Even  Harold  Day  reproached  her  one  morning, 
when  he  met  her  coming  from  the  post-office. 

"  You  don't  let  any  of  us  see  anything  of  you  — 
not  anything/'  he  complained.  "  And  you  look  as 
if  you  were  doing  penance,  or  something  —  you've 
got  such  a  superior  expression !  " 

Genevieve  dimpled  into  a  sudden  laugh. 

"  Maybe  I  am,"  she  retorted.  "  Maybe  I  did 
something  bad  so  I  could  do  something  good;  and 
now  I'm  trying  to  do  enough  good  to  take  out  all 
the  taste  of  the  bad." 


326  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  Well,  what  do  you  mean  by  that,  Miss  Mys- 
tery?" 

She  would  not  tell  him.  She  only  shook  her  head 
saucily,  and  ran  into  the  house. 

By  New  Year's  Day  Miss  Jane  seemed  almost 
like  her  old  self,  and  Genevieve  was  specially  happy, 
for  on  that  night  Harold  Day  gave  the  first  dance 
of  the  season;  and,  with  Miss  Jane  better,  and  her 
own  heart  lighter  once  more,  she  could  give  her- 
self up  to  full  enjoyment  of  the  music,  fun, 
and  laughter. 

All  the  Happy  Hexagons  were  there,  together 
with  O.  B.  J.  Holmes,  Charlie  Brown,  and  many 
other  of  the  young  people,  including  even  Tilly 
Mack's  big  brother,  Howard,  who  —  though  quite 
twenty-one  —  was  a  prime  favorite  with  the  Happy 
Hexagons. 

Genevieve  was  wonderfully  happy  that  evening. 
Never  had  the  music  sounded  so  entrancing ;  never 
had  her  own  feet  felt  so  light.  With  Harold  she 
"opened  the  ball,"  as  Tilly  airily  termed  it;  then 
Charlie  and  O.  B.  J.  had  their  turn. 

"  Oh,  Genevieve,  you  do  look  just  too  sweet  for 
anything  in  that  pale  pink,"  panted  Elsie,  stopping 
at  her  side  between  dances. 

"  Not  any  sweeter  than  you  do  in  that  white," 
tossed  back  Genevieve,  affectionately. 

Elsie  sighed. 

"  I  love  this  white,  too,  but  it's  got  kind  of  f  raz- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  327 

zled  now.  Aunt  Kate  says  she  is  going  to  make 
over  Fannie's  brown  silk  for  Miss  Sally's  wedding," 
she  went  on,  sighing  again. 

"  I'm  sure  that  will  be  nice,"  rejoined  Genevieve, 
with  hasty  politeness. 

"  Y-yes,"  admitted  Elsie;  "only  brown  sounds 
kind  of  hot  for  April.  Still,  I  suppose  I  ought  not 
to  mind.  Just  one  girl  wore  it,  anyhow,  so  it'll  be 
faded  even,  and  I  sha'n't  look  like  two  folks  in  it," 
she  finished  wistfully,  as  Howard  Mack  came  up  to 
claim  his  dance  with  Genevieve. 

It  was  three  days  after  the  party  that  there  came 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Jones  in  reply  to  Mrs.  Kennedy's 
Christmas  note.  It  was  a  very  grateful  letter,  but 
it  was  a  disappointing  one.  It  said  that  Mr.  Jones 
did  not  see  how  he  could  let  Quentina  accept  the 
kind  invitation  of  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  Genevieve. 
All  the  way  through  it,  very  plainly  was  shown  the 
longing  of  a  man  who  desires  advantages  for  his 
daughter,  and  the  pride  of  one  who  cannot  bear 
that  outsiders  should  give  them  to  her. 

Mrs.  Kennedy  saw  this  —  and  wrote  another  let- 
ter. In  due  time  came  the  answer ;  and  again  Gene- 
vieve almost  cried  with  disappointment.  But  Mrs. 
Kennedy  smiled  and  comforted  her. 

:(  Yes,  he  says  '  no/  I'll  admit,  Genevieve ;  but 
I  don't  think  it's  quite  so  strong  a  *  no  '  as  it  was 
before.  One  of  these  days  I  think  I'll  write  Mr. 
Jones  another  letter,  my  dear  —  but  not  just  now. 


328  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

We'll  let  him  think  a  little  —  of  how  good  it  would 
have  been  for  Quentina  if  he'd  said  '  yes.' ' 

Genevieve  gave  Mrs.  Kennedy  a  big  hug. 

"  Aunt  Julia,  you're  a  dear,  and  a  veritable  Solo- 
mon for  wisdom.  I'm  going  to  write  at  once  to 
the  President,  too.  Your  place  is  in  the  diplomatic 
service,  I'm  sure,"  she  finished,  as  she  danced  from 
the  room. 

As  January  passed  and  February  came,  a  new 
subject  came  uppermost  in  the  thoughts  of  the 
Hexagon  Club.  For  the  first  time  in  years  there 
was  to  be  a  prize  contest  in  the  Sunbridge  High 
School.  The  principal,  Mr.  Jackson,  was  to  give  a 
five-dollar  gold  piece  to  the  writer  of  the  best  essay, 
subject  to  be  chosen  by  the  author. 

"  Well,  I  sha'n't  try  for  it,"  announced  Tilly  on 
a  Saturday  afternoon  late  in  February,  as  the  Hexa- 
gon Club  were  holding  their  regular  meeting  at  the 
parsonage. 

"Why  not?  "asked  Elsie. 

"  Because  I  don't  like  defeat  well  enough,"  re- 
torted Tilly.  "  Imagine  me  winning  a  prize  con- 
test!" 

"  Oh,  I  shall  try,"  almost  groaned  Cordelia.  "  I 
shall  always  try  for  things,  I  suppose,  till  I  die.  I 
think  I  ought  to;  but  of  course  I  sha'n't  win  it. 
Dear  me !  how  I  would  love  to,  though,"  she  cried, 
almost  under  her  breath. 

Genevieve,  looking  at  her  momentarily  illumined 


SIX  STAR   RANCH  329 

face,  was  conscious  of  a  sudden  fierce  wish  that  Cor- 
delia might  win  that  prize. 

"  Genevieve,  of  course,  will  try/'  she  heard  Tilly's 
teasing  voice  say,  then.  "  Genevieve  loves  to 
write,  so !  " 

Genevieve  turned  with  a  laugh,  and  an  uptilted 
chin. 

"  I  take  it,  Miss  Mack,  that  your  very  compli- 
mentary remarks  refer  to  my  magazine  notes;  but 
just  let  me  assure  you  that  this  prize  essay  is  quite 
another  matter.  That  isn't  printed! " 

"  Then  you  are  going  to  try  ?  —  of  course  you 
are,"  interposed  Bertha. 

Genevieve  laughed  lightly  as  she  reached  for  a 
piece  of  fudge. 

"  I  suppose  so.  I'm  afraid  everybody  will  expect 
me  to.  Aunt  Julia  has  already  expressed  her 
opinion  of  the  matter." 

February  passed,  and  March  came.  A  new  topic 
of  conversation  now  arose,  specially  of  interest  to 
the  Hexagon  Club.  Miss  Sally  was  to  be  married 
early  in  April,  and  the  Happy  Hexagons  were  to  be 
bridesmaids.  Naturally,  even  the  new  prize  con- 
test had  to  step  one  side  for  that  month,  in  the 
minds  of  the  six  joyously  excited  girls. 

It  was  on  a  particularly  windy  Saturday  toward 
the  end  of  the  month,  that  Cordelia  literally  blew 
up  to  the  Kennedys'  front  door  and  rang  the  bel!5 


330  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Genevieve  herself,  passing  through  the  hall, 
opened  the  door. 

"Br-r-r!"  she  laughed,  as  she  banged  the  door 
shut  after  admitting  the  whirling  draperies  from 
which  Cordelia's  anxious  little  face  finally  emerged. 
"Why,  Cordelia!" 

"  Yes,  I  know ;  I'm  going  to  be  at  the  club  this 
afternoon,  of  course,"  panted  Cordelia;  "but  this 
is  for  something  I  wanted  to  say  to  you  —  and  I 
knew  there  wouldn't  be  a  chance  this  afternoon. 
It  —  it's  private,  Genevieve." 

"  Good !  I  love  secrets.  Come  into  the  sitting' 
room.  There's  no  one  there  this  morning.  Now, 
what  is  it  ?  "  she  demanded,  as  soon  as  Cordelia's 
coat  was  off,  and  they  were  comfortably  seated. 

"  It  —  I  suppose  you  might  call  it  missionary 
work,  Genevieve,"  smiled  Cordelia,  wistfully. 

"More  missionary  work?  Who  in  the  world 
wants  to  go  to  Texas  now? "  laughed  Gene- 
vieve. 

"  Nobody.     It  isn't  Texas  at  all.     It's  —  Elsie." 

"Elsie!" 

"  Yes.  Of  course,  dear,  I  don't  know  as  you  can 
do  anything;  but  you've  done  so  many  things,  and 
I'm  sure  if  you  could,  it  would  be  missionary  work 
of  the  very  nicest  kind." 

"  What  are  you  talking  about  ?  " 

Cordelia  drew  a  long  sigh. 

"  I'll  tell  you.    You  know  the  rest  of  us  brides- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          331 

maids  are  all  going  to  wear  white,  but  —  but  Elsie's 
got  to  wear  Fannie's  brown  silk." 

"  I  know,"  nodded  Genevieve.     "  Elsie  told  me." 
"  But,  Genevieve,  just  think  —  brown  silk  for  a 
bridesmaid  at  a  wedding,  when  all  the  rest  of  us 
wear  white!     Besides,  Elsie  says  brown  is  so  hot- 
looking  for  April.     She  feels  awfully  about  it." 

"  Can't  she  do  something?  I  should  think  she'd 
tell  her  aunt." 

"  She  has.  But  her  aunt  doesn't  seem  to  under- 
stand. She  says  that  the  brown  silk  is  whole  and 
good,  and  far  too  valuable  to  throw  away;  and 
that  it's  all  just  Elsie's  notion  that  she'd  rather 
wear  white." 

"  Oh,  but  if  she'd  only  understand !  " 
"  But  that's  just  it  —  she  doesn't  understand. 
And  it  isn't  as  if  they  were  poor,"  argued  Cordelia, 
earnestly.  "  Now  auntie  has  to  make  over  things, 
of  course,  for  me  and  for  Edith  and  Rachel,  and  we 
expect  it,  and  don't  mind.  We're  all  glad  to  be 
economical  and  help  out,  for  we  know  it's  neces- 
sary. But  it's  different  with  Elsie.  She  says  she 
wouldn't  mind  so,  if  they  were  poor  and  had  to. 
But  the  Gales  are  real  well  off  —  Fannie  and  the 
twins  have  lots  of  new  clothes.  Poor  Elsie  says 
sometimes  it  seems  as  if  her  aunt  actually  bought 
things  for  them,  so  she  could  make  them  over  for 
her.  Elsie  says  she's  never  so  happy  as  when  she's 
doing  it,  and  that  she  makes  a  regular  game  of  it 


332  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

-  cutting-  them  out  and  putting  them  together  — ? 
like  picture  puzzles,  you  know." 

Genevieve  laughed,  though  she  frowned,  too. 

"  But  what  can  I  do  ?  "  she  demanded.  "  I  tried, 
once,  to  —  to  lend  Elsie  a  dress ;  but  she  was  hor- 
rified." 

"Mercy!  Of  course  she  was/'  shuddered  Cor- 
delia. "  I  don't  know  what  Mrs.  Gale  would  do  if 
she  knew  that !  They're  fearfully  —  er  —  er  — • 
proud,  I  suppose  you  call  it,"  hesitated  the  conscien- 
tious Cordelia. 

"But  what  can  I  do?" 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  don't  you  suppose  you  cotild 
—  could  say  something,  somehow,  to  Mrs.  Gale 
that  —  that  would  make  her  understand  ?  " 

"  Why,  Cordelia  Wilson,  of  course  I  couldn't," 
gasped  Genevieve,  indignantly.  "  A  pretty  picture 
I'd  make  going  to  Mrs.  Gale  and  saying :  '  Madam, 
why  don't  you  give  your  niece  a  new  dress  when 
you  know  she  wants  one  ?  ' 

"  N-no,  I  suppose  you  couldn't  do  that,  of  course," 
sighed  the  other.  "  Very  likely  you  couldn't  do 
anything,  anyway.  It's  only  that  I  thought  —  well, 
I  knew  you  were  going  home  with  Elsie  after  school 
Monday  night  to  study;  and  I  didn't  know  but 
you'd  get  a  chance  to  say  something.  But  I  sup- 
pose, after  all,  there  won't  be  anything  you  could 
say." 

"  No,  I  suppose  there  won't,"  echoed  Genevieve, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          333 

still  plainly  appalled  at  the  task  Cordelia  had  set 
for  her. 

"  Well,  it's  only  that  I  was  so  sorry  for  Elsie/' 
sighed  Cordelia,  as  she  rose  to  go. 

"  Of  course !    I  reckon  we're  all  sorry  for  Elsie,"  j 
sighed  Genevieve  in  her  turn. 

And  she  was  sorry.  All  the  rest  of  the  morning 
she  kept  thinking  how  very  sorry  she  was;  and 
when  afternoon  came,  and  when  she  saw  Elsie's  lips 
quiver  and  her  eyes  fill  with  tears,  as  the  others 
happily  discussed  whether  they  would  wear  colored 
sashes  or  white  belts  with  their  white  dresses,  Gene- 
vieve's  heart  quite  overflowed  with  sympathy  for 
Elsie.  And  she  wondered  if,  after  all,  it  were  pos- 
sible to  make  Elsie's  aunt  —  understand.  Deter- 
minedly, then,  she  declared  to  herself  that,  regard- 
less of  consequences,  she  would  try  —  if  she  had  the 
opportunity. 

Genevieve's  opportunity  came  very  soon  after 
she  arrived  at  Elsie's  home  Monday  afternoon. 
Even  Genevieve  herself  had  to  admit  that  she  could 
not  have  had  a  better  one.  But  so  frightened  was 
she  that  she  wished  —  for  a  moment  —  that  there 
were  none.  Then  before  her  rose  a  vision  of  Elsie's 
tear-dimmed  eyes  and  quivering  lips  —  and  with  a 
quick-drawn  breath  Genevieve  rose  and  followed 
Mrs.  Gale  to  the  sewing-room. 

"  Come  with  me,"  Mrs.  Gale  had  said  to  Gene- 
vieve —  Genevieve  had  picked  up  a  scrap  of  brown 


334  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

silk  from  the  floor.  "  That's  a  piece  of  the  dress 
I'm  making  for  Elsie  to  wear  to  the  wedding.  The 
silly  child  has  got  a  notion  she  wants  white,  but 
you'll  think  this  is  pretty,  I'm  sure."  And  it  was 
then  that  Genevieve  knew  her  opportunity  had 
come. 

In  the  sewing-room  Mrs.  Gale  proudly  spread 
the  silk  dress  over  a  chair-back. 

"  There!  What  do  you  think  of  that?  "  she  de- 
manded. 

Genevieve's  heart  beat  so  loudly  she  thought  Mrs. 
Gale  must  hear  it. 

"  It  —  it's  very  pretty,  isn't  it?  "  she  stammered, 
wetting  her  dry  lips  and  wondering  what  good  it 
did  to  say  that. 

"Pretty?  Of  course  it  is.  It's  silk,  and  a  fine 
piece  —  I  thought  when  I  got  it  how  splendidly  it 
would  make  over.  I'm  sure  any  girl  ought  to  be 
proud  to  wear  it!  " 

Genevieve  caught  her  breath  sharply.  "  Proud  " 
—  Mrs.  Gale  had  said  "  proud  " ;  and  Cordelia  had 
said,  that  morning,  that  Mrs.  Gale  herself  was  very 
proud,  and  that  she  would  be  very  angry  if  she 
knew  that  Genevieve  had  offered  Elsie  a  dress  to 
wear.  In  a  flash  of  inspiration,  then,  came  a  wild 
plan  to  Genevieve's  mind.  If  only  she  had  the  au- 
dacity to  carry  it  out! 

She  wet  her  lips  again,  and  took  desperate  hold 
of  her  courage.  Even  as  she  did  so,  she  almost 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          335 

smiled  —  she  was  thinking:  was  this  another  case 
when  she  was  doing  something  bad  to  do  something 
good?  Never  mind;  she  must  go  through  with  it 
now.  She  must! 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  very  pretty  dress,  indeed,"  she  stam- 
mered ;  "  and  it  was  Fannie's,  too,  wasn't  it  ?  " 

Mrs.  Gale  beamed. 

"Yes!  — and  didn't  I  get  it  out  finely?  You 
know  sleeves  are  smaller,  so  that  helped,  and  the 
breadths  were  so  full  last  year!  I  think  I  never 
got  a  dress  out  better/'  she  finished  proudly. 

Genevieve  touched  the  folds  lightly. 

"And  this  isn't  faded  at  all,  is  it?"  she  mur- 
mured pleasantly. 

"  What?  "    Mrs.  Gale's  voice  was  a  little  sharp. 

Genevieve  wet  her  lips  twice  this  time  before  she 
could  speak. 

"I  say,  isn't  it  nice  that  this  one  isn't  faded? 
You  know  Elsie  had  such  a  time  with  that  chambray 
last  summer ! " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  please  ?  "  There  was  no 
doubt  now  about  the  sharpness  in  Mrs.  Gale's 
voice. 

Genevieve  managed  a  laugh  —  but  it  was  not  a 
very  mirthful  one. 

"  Why,  'twas  so  funny,  you  know ;  it  was  made 
from  the  twins'  dresses,  and  they  weren't  faded 
alike.  It  was  just  as  Elsie  said  —  she  didn't  know 
twhether  to  turn  Cora  or  Clara  toward  folks.  It 


336  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

was  funny ;  only,  of  course  it  did  plague  poor  Elsie 
awfully,  and  I  felt  so  sorry  for  her." 

"  You  felt  sorry  —  sorry  for  my  niece f  "  The 
voice  was  so  very  angry  this  time  that  Genevieve 
trembled.  She  was  sure  now  that  it  was  bad  —  this 
thing  she  was  doing  —  that  good  might  come.  But 
she  kept  bravely  on. 

"  Why,  yes,  of  course ;  all  of  us  girls  were  sorry 
for  her.  You  know  Elsie  does  so  love  new  dresses, 
and  of  course  she  doesn't  have  them  very  often. 
Last  summer,  when  she  was  feeling  so  bad  over  her 
chambray,  I  —  I  offered  her  one  of  mine,  but  —  " 

w<  You  —  you  offered  my  niece  one  of  your 
dresses  ?  "  gasped  Mrs.  Gale. 

"Yes,  but  she  wouldn't  take  it;  and,  of  course, 
that  wasn't  new,  either/'  finished  Genevieve,  with 
what  she  hoped  would  pass  for  a  light  laugh  as  she 
turned  away. 

Behind  her,  for  a  moment,  there  was  an  ominous 
.silence.  Then  a  very  quiet  voice  said : 

"  Thank  you ;  but  I  hardly  think  my  niece  needs 
one  of  your  dresses  —  yet,  Miss  Genevieve." 

Genevieve  fled  then,  ashamed,  and  very  near  to 
crying. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  said  it,  of  course,"  she  whis- 
pered to  herself  as  she  stumbled  back  to  the  sitting- 
room  ;  "  I  wouldn't  have  said  it  if  the  Gales  had 
been  poor  and  couldn't  have  given  Elsie  new  things 
to  wear  once  in  a  while !  " 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          337 

In  the  Chronicles  of  the  Hexagon  Club  a  fort- 
night later,  it  was  Elsie  Martin  who  wrote  the  ac- 
count of  Miss  Sally's  wedding.  She  wrote  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  I  'had  a  beautiful  white  dress  for  Miss  Sally's 
wedding  —  a  brand-new  one.  All  of  us  girls  wore 
white  and  looked  so  pretty  —  I  mean,  the  rest 
looked  pretty,  of  course.  Miss  Sally  was  married 
the  tenth  of  April.  It  was  quite  a  warm  day,  and  I 
was  so  glad  I  did  not  have  to  wear  my  brown  silk. 
Aunt  Kate  says  I  needn't  wear  it  anywhere  if  I 
don't  want  to  —  and  after  all  her  work,  too !  I 
don't  know  what  has  got  into  Aunt  Kate,  anyway, 
lately.  She  doesn't  seem  half  so  interested  in 
making  over  things,  and  I  have  three  other  brand- 
new  dresses,  a  pink-sprigged  muslin,  and  —  but, 
dear  me !  This  isn't  telling  about  Miss  Sally's  wed- 
ding one  bit. 

"  She  was  married  at  four  o'clock,  and  looked  too 
sweet  for  anything  in  light  gray  silk  with  a  pink 
carnation  in  her  hair.  Everybody  went,  and  wore 
their  best  things  and  looked  very  nice.  We  had 
sandwiches  and  chicken  salad  and  olives  and  three 
kinds  of  cake  and  ice  cream  for  refreshments.  The 
ice  cream  was  the  brick  kind,  different  colors,  like 
lovely  striped  ribbon. 

"  At  six  o'clock  they  started  for  Boston  to  begin 
their  journey  West,  and  we  all  stood  on  the  steps 
and  gave  them  a  lovely  send-off  with  rice  and  old 


338  SIX  STAR   RANCH 

shoes.  Just  at  the  last  minute  Tilly  says,  '  Let's 
give  her  our  Texas  yell,  and  end  with  "  Miss  Sally," 
and  we  did.  And  everybody  laughed  and  clapped. 
But  not  until  the  carriage  drove  off  did  we  suddenly 
remember  that  she  wasn't  '  Miss  Sally '  at  all  any 
more,  and  we  felt  ashamed. 

"  And  that's  all  —  except  that  Miss  Sally's  going- 
away  gown  was  gray,  too." 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  339 


CHAPTER    XXV 

"  WHEN    SUNBRIDGE   WENT   TO   TEXAS  " 

BY  the  first  of  May  many  of  the  papers  for  the 
new  prize  contest  had  been  turned  in.  Genevieve's, 
however,  had  not.  Genevieve  was  working  very 
hard  on  her  essay  now.  For  some  time  she  had  not 
found  a  subject  that  suited  her.  Good  subjects  were 
not  very  plentiful,  she  decided.  At  last  she  had 
thought  of  the  Texas  trip,  and  had  wondered  if  she 
could  not  compare  Sunbridge  with  Texas.  Aunt 
Julia  and  Miss  Jane  had  thought  decidedly  that  she 
could.  So  for  some  days  now,  she  had  been  hard  at 
work  upon  the  paper,  and  was  getting  enthusias- 
tically interested. 

All  papers  must  be  in  by  the  sixteenth.  It  was 
*m  the  tenth  that  Cordelia,  during  a  recess  meeting 
of  the  Hexagon  Club,  drew  a  long  breath  and 
turned  upon  her  fellow  members  a  beaming  coun- 
tenance. 

"  Girls,  I  can't  keep  it  a  minute  longer.  I've  got 
to  tell  you !  " 

"  Tell  us  what  ?  "  asked  Tilly.  "  It  must  be  some- 
thing pretty  fine  to  bring  that  look  to  your  face ! " 


340  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Cordelia  laughed  and  blushed;  but  she  sighed, 
too. 

"  Oh,  it  isn't  '  fine/  Tilly,  at  all.  I  wish  it  were, 
though  —  but  really,  I  do  think  it's  the  best  thing 
I  ever  did,  anyway." 

"  What  are  you  talking  about,  Cordelia  Wilson  ?  " 
demanded  Genevieve. 

"  Mercy !  It  must  be  pretty  good  if  it's  the  best 
thing  Cordelia  ever  did,"  teased  Bertha. 

"  Girls,  stop,"  begged  Cordelia,  in  real  distress. 
"I  —  I  hate  to  tell  you  now ;  it  sounds  so  foolish. 
It's  only  —  my  prize  paper.  It's  all  done.  I'm  go- 
ing to  hand  it  in  Monday,  and  —  and  I  was  so 
pleased  with  the  subject!  " 

"  Oh,  Cordelia,  what  is  it?  You  know  what  mine 
is,"  cried  Elsie. 

"  It's  —  '  When  Sunbridge  went  to  Texas,'  "  an- 
nounced Cordelia,  breathlessly. 

"  WThen  —  what  ?  "  cried  Genevieve,  almost 
sharply. 

Cordelia  turned  a  happy  face. 

"  I  knew  you'd  like  it,  Genevieve,"  she  nodded. 
"  It's  our  trip,  you  know.  I've  told  all  about  it  — 
comparing  things  here  to  things  there,  you  see." 

"  Why  —  but,  Cordelia,  that's  —  Genevieve 
paused  abruptly.  The  pause  in  her  sentence  was 
not  noticed.  The  girls  were  all  talking  now,  beg- 
ging Cordelia  to  tell  them  if  they  were  "  in  it." 

u  When  —  when   did  you  choose  your  subject, 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  341 

Cordelia  ?  "  asked  Genevieve,  very  quietly,  when  she 
-could  be  heard. 

"  Not  until  the  first  of  May.  I  just  couldn't 
seem  to  get  anything.  Then  this  came  all  of  a  sud- 
den, and  —  and  it  just  seemed  to  write  itself,  it  was 
done  so  quickly.  You  see  I  didn't  have  to  look  up 
this  subject." 

Genevieve's  face  cleared.  It  was  all  right,  after 
all.  She  had  selected  the  subject  a  whole  week  be- 
fore Cordelia  —  and  of  course  Cordelia  would 
understand. 

"  Oh,  but  Cordelia,  that  isn't  quite  fair,"  she 
began  impulsively;  but  for  once  Cordelia  forgot 
her  politeness  and  interrupted. 

"  Don't  you  worry,  Genevieve, "  she  laughed 
gayly.  "  I've  said  lovely  things  of  Texas.  You'd 
know  I'd  do  that,  Genevieve,  even  if  I  do  love 
Sunbridge.  I  did  worry  at  first  for  fear  somebody 
else  had  taken  the  same  subject  —  some  of  you 
girls  —  you  know  we  can't  have  two  about  the 
same  thing." 

"  But  —  "  The  bell  rang  for  the  close  of  recess, 
and  again  one  of  Genevieve's  sentences  remained 
unfinished. 

Genevieve  did  not  stop  even  to  speak  to  any  of 
the  girls  after  school  that  day.  She  went  home  at 
once.  Even  Harold  Day,  who  overtook  her,  found 
her  so  absorbed  in  'her  own  thoughts  that  she  was 
anything  but  her  usual  talkative  self. 


342  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

Once  in  the  house,  Genevieve  went  straight  to 
Mrs.  Kennedy. 

"  Aunt  Julia,  if  you  get  a  prize  subject  first,  it's 
yours,  isn't  it  ?  "  she  asked  tremulously. 

"Why,  y-yes,  dear;    I  should  think  so." 
"  Well,   Aunt  Julia,   something  perfectly   awful 
has  happened.     Cordelia  has  got  my  subject." 

"  Oh,  Genevieve,  I'm  so  sorry !  "  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy's face  showed  more  than  ordinary  distress  — 
Mrs.  Kennedy  had  'had  high  hopes  of  this  prize 
paper.  "  Why,  how  did  it  happen  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  suppose  it  was  just  in  the  air. 
But  /  got  it  first.  She  says  she  didn't  think  of  it 
till  May  first.  So  of  course  it's  —  it's  mine,  Aunt 
Julia." 

Mrs.  Kennedy  looked  very  grave. 

"  I  think  the  rules  of  the  contest  would  give  it 
to  you,  Genevieve,"  she  said. 

The  girl  stirred  restlessly. 

"Of  course  I'm  awfully  sorry.  She  —  she  was 
going  to  hand  it  in  Monday." 

"Oh,  that  is  too  bad!" 

There  was  a  long  silence. 

"  I  suppose  I  —  I'll  have  to  tell  her,"  murmured 
Genevieve,  at  last.  "  The  club  have  a  ride  to-mor- 
row. There'll  be  time  —  then." 

:t  Yes  —  if  you  decide  to  do  it." 

Genevieve  turned  quickly. 

"But,    Aunt    Julia,    I'll    have    to,"    she    cried. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          343 

"Just  think  of  all  my  work!  Mine's  all  done  but 
copying,  you  know.  And  I  was  the  first  to  get  it. 
There's  no  time  to  get  another  now." 

"No,  there's  no  time  to  get  another  —  now." 
Aunt  Julia  looked  even  more  sorrowful  than  Gene- 
vieve  just  then  —  Aunt  Julia  had  wanted  Genevieve 
to  take  that  prize. 

"  I'm  sure  that  Cordelia  —  when  she  knows  —  " 
Genevieve  did  not  finish  her  sentence. 

"No,  indeed!  Of  course,  if  Cordelia  should 
know  —  "  Aunt  Julia  did  not  finish  her  sentence. 

"  But,  Aunt  Julia,  she'll  have  to  know,"  almost 

sobbed  Genevieve. 

/ 

There  was  a  long  silence.  Genevieve's  eyes  were 
out  the  window.  Mrs.  Kennedy,  watching  her,  sud- 
denly spoke  up  with  careless  briskness : 

"  Of  course  you'll  tell  Cordelia  that  'twas  your 
subject,  that  you  got  it  first,  and  that  you  want  it. 
Very  likely  she  won't  care  much,  anyway." 

"  Why,  Aunt  Julia,  she  will!  If  you  could  have 
seen  her  face  when  she  talked  of  it  —  "  Genevieve 
stopped  abruptly.  Genevieve  did  suddenly  see  Cor- 
delia's face  as  it  had  been  that  afternoon,  all  aglow 
with  happiness.  She  heard  her  eager  voice  say, 
too :  "  I  think  it's  the  best  thing  I  ever  did !  " 

"  Oh,  well,  but  maybe  she  doesn't  care  for  the 
prize,"  observed  Mrs.  Kennedy,  still  carelessly. 

"  But,  Aunt  Julia,  she  does ;  she  —  "  Again 
Genevieve  stopped  abruptly.  She  was  remember- 


344  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

ing  now  how  Cordelia's  face  had  looked  that  Febru- 
ary afternoon  at  the  parsonage  when  she  had  said : 
"  Of  course  I  sha'n't  win  it  —  dear  me,  how  I  would 
love  to,  though !  " 

"  But  she'll  understand,  of  course,  when  you  tell 
her  it's  your  subject  and  that  you  want  it,"  went  on 
Mrs.  Kennedy,  smoothly.  Genevieve  did  not  see 
the  keen,  almost  fearful  glances,  that  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy was  giving  her  between  the  light  words. 

"  I  know ;  but  that  sounds  so  —  so  —  There 
was  a  long  pause;  then  Genevieve,  with  a  quiver- 
ing sigh,  rose  slowly  and  left  the  room. 

Mrs.  Kennedy,  for  some  unapparent  reason, 
smiled  —  but  there  were  tears  in  her  eyes. 

The  Hexagon  Club  took  a  long  ride  the  next 
day.  Five  of  them  talked  again  of  Cordelia's  paper, 
and  four  begged  Cordelia  to  tell  what  she  had  said 
about  them.  If  Genevieve,  alone,  was  unusually 
silent,  nobody,  apparently,  noticed  it.  They  were 
riding  by  themselves  to-day.  They  had  invited 
none  of  the  boys  or  other  girls  to  join  them. 

It  was  when  the  ride  was  over,  and  when  Gene- 
vieve had  almost  reached  the  Kennedy  drive- 
way, that  she  said  wistfully,  stroking  the  mare's 
neck: 

"Topsy,  I  just  couldn't.  I  just  couldn't!  It 
sounded  so  —  so —  And,  Topsy,  you  couldn't,  if 
you'd  seen  how  awfully  happy  she  looked !  " 

"What  did   Cordelia   say?"   asked   Mrs.   Ken- 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  345 

nedy,  when  Genevieve  came  into  the  house  a  little 
later.  There  was  no  hint  in  the  lady's  voice  of  the 
hope  that  was  in  her  heart. 

"I  —  I  didn't  tell  her,  Aunt  Julia,"  stammered 
Genevieve.  Then,  with  a  playful  whimsicality  that 
did  not  in  the  least  deceive  Aunt  Julia's  ears,  she 
added :  "  Who  wants  that  old  prize,  anyhow  ?  " 

It  was  a  beautiful  smile,  then,  that  illumined 
Aunt  Julia's  face,  and  it  was  a  very  tender  kiss  that 
fell  on  Genevieve's  forehead. 

"  That's  my  brave  Genevieve  —  and  I'm  sure 
you'll  never  regret  it,  my  dear !  "  she  said. 

May  passed,  and  June  came,  bringing  warm, 
sunny  days  that  were  very  tempting  to  feet  that 
were  longing  to  be  tramping  through  green  woods 
and  fields.  Examinations,  however,  were  coming 
soon,  and  Genevieve  knew  that,  tempting  as  was 
the  beautiful  out-of-doors,  studies  must  come  first. 
Every  possible  minute,  however,  she  spent  in  rides, 
walks,  and  tennis  playing  —  even  Miss  Jane  in- 
sisted that  she  must  have  exercise. 

June  brought  not  only  alluring  days,  however, 
but  a  letter  from  Quentina,  which  sent  Genevieve 
flying  into  Mrs.  Kennedy's  room. 

"  Aunt  Julia,  did  you  write  again  to  Mr.  Jones  ?  " 

"  I  did,"  smiled  Mrs.  Kennedy,  "  and  I  have  a 
letter  from  him  to-day." 

"  You  darling !    Then  you  know,  of  course !    Oh, 


346  SIX   STAR  RANCH 

Aunt  Julia,  isn't  it  lovely!  I  just  can't  wait  till  to- 
morrow to  tell  the  girls." 

Genevieve  did  wait,  however  —  she  waited  even 
till  the  morning  recess.  She  wanted  all  the  Happy 
Hexagons  together;  and  when  she  had  them  to- 
gether she  told  them  the  astounding  news  in  one 
breathless  rush  of  words. 

"  Girls,  Quentina's  coming  next  year  to  school. 
She's  going  to  room  with  me.  Isn't  it  lovely!  " 

There  was  a  chorus  of  delighted  questions 
and  exclamations;  but  Genevieve  lifted  her 
hand. 

"  Sh-h !  Listen.  I've  got  her  letter  here.  You 
must  hear  it !  "  and  she  whipped  open  the  letter 
and  began  to  read: 

"  Oh  —  oh  -  It  isn't  true  —  it  can't  be  true ! 
But  father  says  it  is,  and  father  doesn't  lie.  I'm 
to  go  to  Sunbridge.  Sunbridge!  I  think  Sun- 
bridge  is  the  loveliest  name  in  the  world  —  for  a 
town,  I  mean,  of  course. 

"  DEAR  GENEVIEVE  :  —  There  1  this  is  actually 
the  first  minute  I  could  bring  myself  to  begin  this 
letter  properly.  Really,  a  thing  like  this  can't  just 
begin,  you  know !  And  to  think  that  I'm  going  to 
see  Paul  Revere's  grave  and  Bunker  Hill  and  you 
just  next  September!  Oh,  how  can  I  ever  thank 
you  and  dear  Mrs.  Kennedy?  I  love  her,  love  her, 
love  her  —  right  now !  And  all  the  Happy  Hexa- 


SIX  STAR  RANCH          347 

gons  —  I  love  them,  too.     I  love  everybody  and 
everything  —  I'm  going  to  Sunbridge ! 

"  All  day  I've  been  saying  over  and  over  to  my- 
self that  song  in  the  '  Lady  of  the  Lake,'  only  I've 
changed  the  words  a  little  to  fit  my  case ;  like  this : 

"  '  Quentina,  rest!  thy  longing  o'er, 

Sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  breaking; 
Dream  of  Texas  schools  no  more, 

Days  of  longing,  nights  of  sighing 
For  Paul  Revere's  enchanted  land. 

Hands  unseen  thy  days  are  planning, 
Fairy  strains  of  music  falling 

Every  sense  is  up  and  calling, 
Quentina,  rest!  thy  longing  o'er, 

East  thy  steps  will  turn  once  more/ 

"  That  l  more  '  is  poetry,  but  a  fib;  for  of  course 
I  haven't  been  East  at  all  yet.  But  that's  just  poetic 
license,  you  know  —  fibs  like  that. 

"  Oh,  I  just  can't  wait  for  September! 
''  Your  happy,  happy 

"  QUENTINA." 

"  My,  but  won't  she  be  a  picnic  when  she  gets 
here?"  chuckled  Tilly,  as  soon  as  she  could  stop 
laughing  long  enough  to  find  her  voice. 

"  What  in  the  world  is  the  matter  with  you 
girls  ?  "  demanded  Charlie  Brown,  sauntering  up  to 
them,  arm  in  arm  with  O.  B.  J.  Holmes. 


348  SIX   STAR   RANCH 

Tilly  turned  merrily. 

"  Matter !  I  guess  you'll  think  something  is  the 
matter  when  Quentina  Jones  gets  here,"  she  laughed. 

"  Who  is  Quentina  Jones?  " 

"  She  is  a  new  girl  who  is  coming  to  school  next 
year,"  explained  Elsie. 

"  She's  from  Texas,  and  she's  never  been  East 
before,"  chimed  in  Bertha. 

"  Yes,  and  as  for  you,  Mr.  Obejay  Holmes," 
teased  Tilly,  "just  you  wait!  There's  no  telling 
what  she  will  do  with  your  name !  " 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

O.  B.  J.  spoke  to  Tilly,  but  he  threw  a  merry 
glance  into  Genevieve's  understanding  eyes. 

"  Nothing,  only  she's  a  regular  walking  rhyming 
dictionary,  and  I  can  just  fancy  how  those  mysteri- 
ous initials  of  yours  will  fire  her  up.  My  poor  little 
'  O  Be  Joyful '  won't  be  in  it,  then.  You'll  see !  " 

"  I  don't  worry  any,"  laughed  O.  B.  J.  Holmes, 
with  another  merry  glance  at  Genevieve. 

"You  don't  have  to,"  interposed  Genevieve, 
promptly.  "  Quentina  is  everything  that  is  sweet 
and  lovely,  and  you'll  all  like  her;  I  know  you  will," 
she  finished,  as  the  bell  rang  and  the  boys  turned 
laughingly  away. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  349 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

A   GOOD  -  BY    PARTY 

THE  June  days  sped  so  rapidly  that  Genevieve 
wondered  where  they  went,  sometimes.  School  was 
to  close  the  twenty-third.  Mr.  Hartley  was  to  ar- 
rive on  the  twentieth.  Meanwhile  examinations  and 
the  prize  contest  were  uppermost  in  every  one's 
thoughts.  Graduation  exercises  were  to  come  in 
the  evening.  The  winner  of  the  prize  was  to  be 
announced  at  that  time,  also. 

"  And  really,  you  know,  the  announcement  of 
the  prize-winner  is  all  we  care  about  specially," 
Elsie  said  one  day,  in  the  presence  of  a  group  of 
her  friends  on  the  schoolhouse  steps. 

"  Just  you  wait  till  you  graduate,"  laughed  back 
Bertha's  brother,  Charlie,  "  and  then  I  guess  the 
evening  exercises  will  be  of  some  consequence." 

"  Of  course  —  but  that  won't  be  till  two  years 
from  now,"  cried  Genevieve. 

"  Then  you  girls  will  be  thinking  more  of  frills 
and  furbelows  than  you  will  of  prizes,"  laughed 
Harold  Day. 

"  I've  got  a  new  white  dress  for  Graduation 
night,"  said  Elsie  in  a  low  voice  to  Genevieve,  "  and 


350  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

I  don't  believe  I  could  have  a  prettier  one,  even 
then." 

"  Another  new  white  dress  ?  "  demanded  Tilly, 
who  had  heard  the  aside.  "  Why,  Elsie  Martin,  you 
had  one  for  Miss  Sally's  wedding !  " 

Elsie  laughed  happily. 

"  I  know  —  but  this  is  a  muslin.  Aunt  Kate 
seemed  to  want  me  to  have  it  —  and  of  course  I'd 
love  to  have  it,  myself!" 

Genevieve,  for  some  reason,  looked  suddenly 
very  happy,  so  much  so  that  Harold,  watching  her, 
said  quietly  a  minute  later: 

"  Well,  young  lady,  what's  gone  specially  right 
with  your  world  to-day?  " 

Genevieve  laughed  and  blushed.  She  shook  her 
head  roguishly.  Then  suddenly  she  rejoined: 

"  I  reckon  one  of  my  awfully  bad  things  has 
turned  out  all  good  —  that's  all !  " 

True  to  his  word,  Mr.  Hartley  came  on  the 
twentieth.  He  was  to  be  Mrs.  Kennedy's  guest 
until  the  start  for  Texas  after  school  had  closed. 

"  My,  dearie!  how  fine  and  tall  we  are  growing," 
he  greeted  his  daughter  affectionately.  "Looks  like 
Mr.  Tim  and  the  boys  won't  know  you,  I'm  think- 
ing!" 

"Nonsense!  Of  course  they  will  —  and  I 
can't  hardly  wait  to  see  them,  either,"  cried  Gene- 
vieve. 


SIX  STAR  RANCH  351 

It  is  doubtful  if,  on  Graduation  night,  Cordelia 
Wilson  herself  listened  to  the  announcement  of  the 
prize-winner  any  more  anxiously  than  did  Gene- 
vieve.  It  seemed  as  if  she  could  not  bear  it  —  after 
what  had  happened  —  if  Cordelia  did  not  get  the 
prize.  And  Cordelia  got  it. 

"  *  When  Sunbridge  went  to  Texas/  "  read  Mr. 
Jackson,  "  Cordelia  Wilson."  And  it  was  Gene- 
vieve  who  clapped  the  loudest. 

Cordelia,  certainly,  was  beatifically  happy.  And 
when  Genevieve  saw  her  amazed,  but  joyously  happy 
face,  she  wondered  why  she  should  suddenly  want 
to  cry  —  for,  surely,  she  had  never  felt  happier  in 
her  life. 

Graduation  day,  for  the  Happy  Hexagons,  was 
not,  after  all,  quite  the  last  meeting  together;  for 
Mrs.  Kennedy  gave  Genevieve  a  porch  party  the 
night  before  she  was  to  start  back  to  Texas  with 
Mr.  Hartley. 

A  very  merry  crowd  of  boys  and  girls  it  was  that 
sang  college  songs  and  told  stories  that  night  on 
the  Kennedys'  roomy,  electric-lighted  veranda. 

"  It  seems  just  as  if  I  couldn't  have  you  go  away," 
sighed  Cordelia,  at  last,  to  Genevieve. 

"  But  I'm  coming  back  next  year." 

"  Mercy!  We  couldn't  stand  it  if  you  weren't," 
cried  Tilly. 

"  And  just  think  —  last  year  we  all  went  back 
with  you,"  murmured  Elsie. 


352  SIX  STAR  RANCH 

"  I  wish  you  were  going  this  year,"  declared 
Genevieve. 

"  I  guess  you  aren't  the  only  one  that  wishes 
that,"  cut  in  several  longing  voices. 

"  Well,  we'll  take  you  all  now  —  if  you'll  go," 
retorted  Genevieve,  merrily. 

-  All  —  did  you  say?  "  challenged  Harold  Day. 

"  Yes,  all,"  nodded  Genevieve,  emphatically. 
"  We'd  be  glad  to  have  you,  every  one  of  you." 

"  Well,  I  begin  to  think  you  would  —  now  that 
I've  seen  Texas,"  sighed  Tilly.  "  But  I  suppose  we 
shall  have  to  content  ourselves  till  you  come  back 
this  time." 

"  And  this  wonderful  little  rhyming  dictionary,  as 
Miss  Tilly  calls  her  —  does  she  come  back  with 
you?"  asked  O.  B.  J.  Holmes. 

"  Maybe.  She  comes  next  fall,  anyway,  before 
school  begins,"  smiled  Genevieve. 

"  Well,  what  I  want  to  know  is,  if  you  are  going 
to  do  any  more  Texas  missionary  work,"  suggested 
Charlie  Brown. 

"  Pooh !  She  doesn't  do  that  there  —  she  does 
that  here,"  cut  in  Tilly. 

"  There  isn't  any  more  to  do,  anyway,"  declared 
the  exact  Cordelia,  happily.  "  She's  got  everything 
fixed  even  down  to  Elsie's  —  "  She  stopped  just 
in  time,  but  already  Genevieve  had  interposed  hur- 
riedly : 

"  Oh,  but  it  wasn't  I  that  did  anything.     It  was 


SIX   STAR   RANCH  353 

Cordelia.    She  found  them  to  begin  with,  you  know 
—  Reddy,  and  Hermit  Joe's  son." 

Mrs.  Kennedy  and  Miss  Jane,  together  with 
Nancy  appeared  just  then  with  great  plates  of  ice 
cream  and  delicious  cake;  and  after  that,  all  too 
soon,  came  the  time  for  good-nights.  The  good- 
nights  were  not  quite  finished,  however,  until  at  the 
foot  of  the  walk,  five  members  of  the  Hexagon  Club 
turned,  and  all  together  gave  their  Texas  yell  with 
a  lusty  "  Genevieve  "  at  the  end  that  brought  the 
tears  to  the  real  Genevieve's  eyes. 

"  Texas,  Texas,  Tex  —  Tex  —  Texas! 
Texas,  Texas,  Rah!    Rah!    Rah! 
GENEVIEVE!  " 

"  Mercy !  What  will  the  neighbors  say  —  at  this 
time  of  night !  "  protested  Miss  Jane  Chick,  feebly ; 
but  her  eyes,  too,  were  moist. 


THE   END. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

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